Transformational plans for Lynfield Mount
We have plans to create a best in class acute inpatient facility on the Lynfield Mount Hospital site.
The phased development will create a more modern, safe and therapeutic environment for patients, and the best place to work for staff.
Where are now?
We have secured £50 million in funding from the Department of Health and Social Care to start some of this work. The plans will be finalised with input from staff, service users, families, and stakeholders, building on earlier feedback sessions, aiming to create a recovery-focused environment to meet the needs of patients, staff and partners across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.
Once agreed, work on Lynfield’s central block will be carefully planned over three years. Throughout this time, the hospital will remain fully operational to ensure continuity of care for all patients.
Why it needs to change
Lynfield’s central building was developed in the 1960s, with a 1950s design, when attitudes to mental health were very different.
The current design reflects the institutionalised and restrictive mental health care that none of us would recognise today. As a result, ward bathrooms have to be shared by 21 patients and ward layouts make it difficult for staff to observe all areas.
There is very little recreational space and despite efforts to reduce carbon emissions, they are still too high. Critically, the building does not support patient recovery and wellbeing, contributing to longer length of stays, despite the excellent care given by our staff.
Our regulator, the Care Quality Commission, rated the quality of care as ‘good’, but stated the building is ‘not fit for purpose’. One former patient said ‘it was individuals (staff) rather than the place itself’ that supported their recovery, whilst a patient representative said ’as someone who has been using mental health services for 35 years …. it’s clear that despite the caring staff, the old Lynfield building just doesn’t support quick recovery’.
The new facility
The new facility aims to provide a bright, welcoming space, with more therapeutic spaces for patients, wards with safer bed numbers, and all beds will have en-suites.
Safe outdoor garden spaces and recreational areas will support patient recovery and wellbeing.
We will also be ‘investing’ in the local area using local suppliers and skills, whilst reducing out-of-area bed placements and the high maintenance costs that we have for the current site.
By reducing our repairs backlog and cutting our maintenance costs, we will see a return on investment in the early years, once all the development work is complete.