Haven Court, South Tyneside District Hospital
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Summary
Haven Court provides residential, day and respite care, and rehabilitation services, particularly for older people with dementia.
Haven Court is a care hub built in the grounds of South Tyneside District Hospital. It has been designed to integrate a range of services including residential, day and respite care, as well as rehabilitation, particularly for older people with dementia.
Serving an ageing population
The decision to build Haven Court was taken in light of South Tyneside's ageing population. Currently, older people make up 18% of the borough's population but this is estimated to rise to 21% by 2021. By 2030, there is expected to be a 50% rise in the cases of dementia and a 138% increase among those aged over 90.
Haven Court is one strand of the council's ambitious strategy to reshape the entire health and social care system.
The emphasis will be on helping patients to live as independently as possible, with a rehabilitation and therapeutic service on offer to help them return to their own homes.
The design of the facility by P+HS Architects has been created to allow flexibility to cater for different clinical needs and for those with varying degrees of dementia.
Robertson North East England constructed the building to a design that would bring a variety of care services together into a single hub.
Robertson Engineering Services delivered the M&E design to accommodate the special requirements of elderly users.
- No major plant was situated near the bedrooms so future maintenance would not affect patients.
- Underfloor heating with local control provides a comfortable environment in each room. This required coordination of various elements including damp-proof membrane, floor insulation and dry lining.
- All bedrooms had en-suite facilities consisting of walk-in shower, toilet and wash hand basin.
- The heating and hot water for the entire building is provided from a central plant room, which can be monitored and controlled to suit the particular needs of the end users.
- Dimmable corridor lighting is set to provide gentle, 10% illumination at night.
The interior is designed using colour schemes that help people find their way around, and also includes various elements that support independent living and general wellbeing.
Hard landscaping works included internal courtyards that provide a safe and calm area to relax and recover.
Combining healthcare, community and wellbeing
The care hub has 80 beds and rooms for medical consultations and assessments, where people will be able to get advice as well as help to use technological aids to support independent living.
An open day was organised in August 2016 for the public to take a tour of the building and learn more about the services on offer.
Haven Court is an exciting, innovative development of which everyone in South Tyneside can be very proud.
