Work underway to improve ward for service users and staff at the Michael Carlisle Centre

Have you seen the building work going on at Michael Carlisle and wondered what is happening there? 

Building work has begun at the Michael Carlisle Centre on a ward to get it ready for service users and staff from Burbage ward to move to in April. 

The work is truly spectacular and puts the creation of a therapeutic environment at the heart of the development.

The improvements include:

  • A revamped garden space with raised beds and a planting scheme designed with aromatherapy and relaxation in mind. 
  • Improved staff rest facilities, including a kitchen with breakfast bar, microwave and fridge freezer - just in case staff are doing a long shift and want to be able to freeze a meal. 
  • 12 bedrooms with anti-ligature furniture, as well as new special door top alarms with full anti-barricade, privacy glass that can be closed on both sides. We are putting in a passport door lock system (similar to hotels) which will help us improve service user safety, privacy and dignity. 
  • New windows with special safety glass installed to protect service users and reduce ligature risks. 
  • Washing facilities with both showers and baths, we’ll even have products that service users can use to help them to relax.
  • A lounge with comfy seating, French windows to allow access on to the garden, a TV and computer game consoles.
  • Separate clinic and treatment rooms.
  • A refreshed MDT room with staff refreshment facilities and wall mounted screen for meetings.

Dr Afif and Riann Parr, who will be the new ward manager of Burbage, took a tour of the building work about three weeks ago. Speaking after the visit Riann said: "I just can’t wait to get started. This will be an amazing new place for us to care for our service users. We have a fabulous team on Burbage ward and the facilities for service users will be just what we need to create a therapeutic environment."

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Dovedale 2, Burbage