Fire resistant glazing specialist Promat UK has worked with Doorset Technology to help deliver a safe, calm and naturally-lit environment for a specialist healthcare facility developed for mothers who are facing mental health problems.
The new Ribblemere Unit, developed by Lancashire Care NHS Trust at the Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital, provides vitally important care for women experiencing severe mental health problems or who may be at high risk of becoming mentally unwell in the perinatal period. The state-of-the-art facility, designed by architects Gilling Dod, enables treatment and recovery for mothers while allowing their relationships with their babies to develop, and is staffed by multidisciplinary teams across psychiatry, nursing and nursery care.
The redevelopment project’s focus was on interior design and arts integration. With insights taken from the patients and staff of the unit it replaced, an interior theme of rivers, meadows and natural landscapes was developed, with artist Stella Corrall commissioned to develop bespoke artworks for the scheme. These appear on many walls and manifestations throughout the Ribblemere Unit, combining with large new windows, glazing, and bright ‘daylight’ lighting to deliver a sense of softness that adds to the uplifting and calming feel.
