New Mossley Hill Hospital Opens After Delayed Five-Year Wait

The new Mossley Hill Hospital, a facility valued at £80 million, has officially opened its doors to patients, five years later than originally anticipated. The construction of the 80-bed hospital, situated in Liverpool, was completed in October 2023. Following this, final inspections were conducted before patients were admitted.

Planning for the hospital began in 2017, with hopes to have the facility operational by 2020. However, the demolition of the previous hospital was not completed until December 2021. In 2022, Liverpool City Council’s planning committee approved fresh proposals, leading to construction work that commenced in 2024 and lasted for 30 months. Residents in the area reported concerns about “disruption, filth, and noise” during the construction phase.

The new hospital has fewer beds than initially proposed by the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which originally planned for a larger capacity. The facility aims to improve mental health care by ending dormitory-style accommodations for patients in Liverpool. It provides services that were previously located at the Broadoak Unit in Broadgreen Hospital and Windsor House in Toxteth. Notably, the revised plan excludes services from the STAR Unit at the Rathbone Hospital, resulting in a decrease in the number of beds.

Facilities and Features of the New Hospital

Mossley Hill Hospital features four single-sex wards, each equipped with en-suite bedrooms for patients. The design includes a café for patients, as well as garden areas to promote a calming environment.

Lyndsey Kelly, Deputy Director of Mental Health Inpatients at Mersey Care, expressed enthusiasm about the new facility. She highlighted the importance of providing appropriate spaces for recovery, stating, “Our staff have moved out of facilities which were no longer appropriate for our patients. With this new build, we’re giving people the space to recover and the opportunity to engage in meaningful and therapeutic group activities.”

The hospital aims to foster a sense of community with therapeutic spaces, including a purpose-built gym, designed to enhance both patient and staff wellbeing. The environment is tailored to be welcoming and family-oriented, ensuring that visitors feel included.

Funding for the hospital included Public Dividend Capital (PDC) from the Department of Health, underscoring the public investment in mental health services.

Positive Impact on Mental Health Care

Dr. Anna Richman, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Mersey Care, praised the new facility, describing it as “fantastic.” She noted, “When you walk around it, you realize what an amazing, light building it is, which is going to be great for our staff and service users, knowing how important environment is to people’s recovery and wellbeing.”

The opening of the Mossley Hill Hospital marks a significant advancement in mental health care in Liverpool, as it strives to provide a high standard of living conditions and care for those seeking treatment. As the facility begins its operations, the hope is that it will greatly improve mental health outcomes for patients in the region.