Kingsway Group we’re proud to partner with Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust on the new 16-bed Ruby Ward, a state-of-the-art, female-only inpatient facility catering for older people with acute mental health difficulties.
The new £12.6 million site, situated on KMPT’s Hermitage Lane site in Maidstone, replaces the outdated inpatient services previously located in Medway as part of a national NHSE drive to eradicate ‘dormitory’ style wards in inpatient mental health facilities which no longer best serve patients’ care or safety needs.
Alongside the Trust, principal contractor Kier Construction, and project architect Ryder Architecture, a bright, spacious and welcoming environment was successfully delivered, with the ward officially opening in March of 2024.
Specified to provide the internal doorsets for the Ruby Ward, Kingsway Group were tasked with designing a bespoke doorset package to meet the varying requirements of the ward’s facilities, including the service user bedrooms, communal areas, de-escalation rooms, staff offices and more.
A range of Kingsway’s specialist anti-ligature and anti-barricade Complete Door Systems were selected for use, providing unique safety features paired with non-institutional aesthetics and simplicity of operation.
These included SWITCH Anti-Barricade Door Systems with integrated Door Top Monitor Alarms for the service user bedrooms, STABLE Split-Leaf Door Systems for the ward offices, and SOLO Single-Action Door Systems for corridors and communal spaces.
Adding character to each area within the ward, the doorsets were supplied in a range of coloured finishes with each bedroom door featuring a unique image housed within its Visilux Privacy Vision Panel.
The images used within the customised Visilux Vision Panels were selected through co-production with Experts by Experience and input from clinical teams at the Trust, serving as a way of introducing calming imagery to the ward environment while aiding wayfinding throughout the facility.
Speaking at the ward opening on 8th March, KMPT Chief Executive Sheila Stenson said, “I am delighted to see our new, state-of-the-art Ruby Ward open its doors to our patients and bring an end to the last of our old, outdated dormitory wards.
“I am committed to ensuring our buildings are fit for purpose and enable us to provide the very best care to our patients and that is exactly what we have created here. Not only will Ruby create a better day every day for our patients, it will also increase our capacity to support older people with mental health needs.”
Chiji Okeke of Ryder Architecture, architect for the Ruby Ward, provides an insight into some of the project’s many design considerations, explaining “the building’s spaces are planned to optimise observation throughout the ward, particularly into the central lounge and dining day spaces. These spaces are top lit via roof lights that create a calming and therapeutic environment.
“Additionally small garden rooms have been located at the ends of the bedroom corridors, providing a ‘destination’ to wandering routes where service users can sit and look out onto landscaped garden areas. These secure themed gardens are accessible for service users and visitors. A dedicated secure garden has been provided for a de-escalation room, themed to create a calm environment.”
Kingsway Group would like to congratulate all those involved in creating the Ruby Ward and we wish its staff the very best for the future.
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