NHS Tayside has accepted the keys to a new purpose-built facility for older patients and those living with dementia.
The Kingsway Care Centre on Kings Cross Road in Dundee will provide 62 in-patient beds and a day clinic supplying space for up to 15 patients per day and has been designed to meet the specific needs of the patient groups.
Patients and staff currently at Royal Dundee Liff Hospital will transfer to the new centre in the autumn as community mental health teams and day clinic patients and staff.
The new site will house a range of services under one roof including all Psychiatry of Old Age services and staff from nursing, medical, allied health professionals and community teams.
NHS Tayside chairman Sandy Watson said: “I have no doubt that this vastly improved accommodation will be very much welcomed by both patients and staff and it demonstrates our commitment to patient-centred care.
“However, improvements in care will not come solely from moving to a new venue, but also from the professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm of a whole range of staff, with professionals, patients and relatives working together in partnership.”
Staff with specialist skills from other parts of the services will be able to see patients more easily, ensuring that they get the best care and treatment possible.
It will also provide in-patients with single bedrooms with en-suite facilities, improving dignity and privacy.
The environment has been designed with dementia-friendly features such as the use of bold colours on doors and dementia-friendly signage, all of which will help to reduce confusion and distress for patients.
The improvement in the patient environment and the delivery of all services under one roof has been designed to provide a better experience for patients, carers and their families.
The new centre also offers improved space for socialisation for patients and their families in a variety of areas such as separate dining facilities, choice of living areas, quiet areas and access for all patients to outdoor garden space.
The communal areas and caf will give families and carers the opportunity to socialise with their loved ones away from the bedside.
Chief operating officer Lesley McLay said: “The new facility is a demonstration of NHS Tayside’s commitment to improving the environment for patients and staff.
“The new Kingsway Care Centre project is part of our planning for the future in which resources are directed to services instead of being consumed by our aged buildings.
“I share the confidence and excitement of our staff, patients and carers at the opportunity this new facility represents to deliver the best quality of care to our patients.”