New Chester mental health hospital could create 500 jobs

The 52-bed unit, comprised of four wards, would be created at 1 Lakeside, off the A483 Wrexham Road, applicants Cygnet Health Care Ltd say, a building which has been vacant since 2020, with the majority of the first floor never occupied since it was constructed in 2005.

In an operator statement submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council as part of the submitted application, Cygnet said the new 135,000 sq ft development would “help meet NHS demand for care”.

The health firm, established in 1988, has a range of health and social care services for young people and adults with mental health needs, eating disorders, autism and learning disabilities, with a care team of 11,500 employees. Locally, it has a medicines management operation by Chester-based Speeds Healthcare on Minerva Way, whose services would be expanded with the new facility.

The Lakeside site would “provide a mental health care facility, which will offer urgent admission beds to meet the acute needs of adults requiring access to mental health services, including those who may need an intensive care environment in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).”

The four wards would be divided into two PICU wards (male and female), a male acute ward and a 12-bed ward with the capacity to provide training and induction for nursing, multi-disciplinary teams and international nurse recruits.

Cygnet added the facility is needed due to the high demand for specialist mental health services in the area, citing that 48 patients from the Cheshire and Wirral area are currently being cared for outside of the area, and this number could rise unless new developments address that, as there are not enough facilities and beds locally.

The applicants added: “Where beds are limited in the local area and region, patients may have to travel over five hours for a bed.

“By developing this new service we will be able to offer a PICU to Acute pathway through the same hospital meaning a patient could complete their treatment journey within one setting.

“Additionally, for this patient cohort, being close to family is especially important as family support is often a crucial part of the recovery journey. By providing a new service at One Lakeside we hope to offer care that is closer to home for more people.”

The new facility would “not function like a typical hospital” as it would not be open to the public, with no A&E department. Patients admitted would be ones following a model of care pathway, which could typically take about six to 14 weeks, with all treatment delivered under one roof.

Cygnet added in its statement: “Whilst we understand sometimes people are concerned about individuals requiring mental health care, we can offer our assurance that this is not a place of containment (sometimes referred to as a low or medium secure unit), rather it is a place of sanctuary, focusing on providing appropriate care and treatment to enable those staying there to feel supported and safe.”

Included in the facility would be en-suite bedrooms, therapy rooms, a multi-faith room, treatment rooms, communal lounges, a dining room, a quiet lounge, a meeting room, a hair/beauty salon and barbers, plus existing on-site car parking, and a garden space for service users.

The operator statement added: “The mental health care facility will also provide rehabilitation services, such as occupational therapy, arts and music therapy, education workshops, group sessions and other similar activities to promote good mental health.

“The setting will offer space for therapy gardens to provide tranquil and revitalising internal environments. In turn this will create diverse jobs roles with training across a number of specialist areas.”

Construction work at the building would involve the creation of spaces for the pharmacy, IT and archiving facility and hospital setting.

About 500 jobs would be created from the new facility, with an additional 100+ contractors during building work.

The applicants noted several other healthcare providers already run from Chester Business Park, including independent hospital SpaMedica, Chester Hearing & Balance Services, Dentologicum and global biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is to decide on the application at a later date.