Trust celebrates official opening of £35m state-of-the-art older people’s mental health unit
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has officially opened its redeveloped Blossomwood site, marking a significant investment in modern mental health care facilities for older adults across Nottinghamshire.
The £35million redevelopment programme, with construction partners Tilbury Douglas, has transformed the Sutton-in-Ashfield site, creating a purpose-built environment that supports high-quality, person-centred care for older people living with dementia and other mental health conditions.
While patients have already been benefiting from the new facilities since the completion of the final ward, the official opening celebrates the culmination of a major programme of work that has modernised the site and created a safer, more therapeutic environment for patients, carers, visitors and colleagues.
Pictured: Quiet Lounge (picture by Tilbury Douglas)
The redevelopment forms part of the Trust's commitment to improving inpatient mental health services, including the removal of dormitory-style accommodation and the creation of single en-suite bedrooms that provide greater privacy, dignity and independence for patients.
Blossomwood now brings together specialist older adult inpatient services under one roof and includes:
- An 18-bed dementia ward
- An 18-bed mental health ward
- A 10-bed flexible ward supporting patients with dementia and/or mental health needs
- Dedicated therapeutic activity spaces
- Landscaped outdoor areas and gardens
- Improved assessment, therapy and consultation rooms
- A refurbished Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) suite and supporting facilities
- Enhanced staff welfare areas and medical education facilities
- Modern safety systems including upgraded CCTV, nurse call technology and security systems
The wards have been designed with accessibility and dementia-friendly principles at their heart, featuring clear signage, calming colour schemes, spacious communal areas and easy access to outdoor spaces that support wellbeing and recovery.
Blossomwood is one of the first major capital projects to embody the ambitions of the Trust's new Making a Difference Strategy 2026-2029 . Designed around the needs of patients, families, carers and colleagues, the redevelopment demonstrates the Trust's commitment to putting patients first, creating environments that support compassionate, personalised care, and investing in facilities that will enable high-quality services for years to come.
Pictured: Outdoor Courtyard (picture by Tilbury Douglas)
Mark Axcell, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: " "The official opening of Blossomwood is an important milestone for our Trust and a powerful example of our new Making a Difference Strategy in action.
The transformation of this site has created modern facilities that better meet the needs of our patients, their families and our colleagues. Every aspect of the redevelopment has been designed to enhance dignity, privacy and patient experience while supporting the delivery of high-quality mental health care.
I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project, including our patients, carers, staff and partners, whose patience and support have helped us reach this significant moment."
Pictured: Communal Lounge (picture by Tilbury Douglas)
Becky Sutton, Chief Operating Officer at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Blossomwood demonstrates what can be achieved when we invest in both our services and the environments in which care is delivered.
The new facilities have already made a real difference for patients and colleagues. The move to single en-suite accommodation, improved therapeutic spaces and enhanced ward environments has strengthened our ability to provide personalised care while also supporting a number of improvements identified through regulatory inspections.
Most importantly, these facilities provide a welcoming and recovery-focused environment where people can receive the care and support they need with dignity, comfort and respect."
The official opening follows recent regional recognition for the project, which was awarded Highly Commended in the Retrofit category at the Constructing Excellence East Midlands Awards. The redevelopment, delivered in partnership with Tilbury Douglas, was also shortlisted in the Integration and Collaborative Working category, recognising the significant transformation of the site while maintaining vital mental health services throughout the construction programme.
The redevelopment programme has been delivered while maintaining services on site, ensuring patients continued to receive specialist care throughout the construction period.
The official opening was marked with a celebration event attended by patients, families, carers, colleagues and partners, alongside the Trust's Chair, Board members and senior leaders. Guests were invited to tour the new facilities, hear about the impact of the redevelopment and reflect on the collective effort that has transformed Blossomwood into a modern environment that supports high-quality mental health care for older adults.
The event provided an opportunity to recognise the contributions of patients, carers and staff whose feedback helped shape the development, as well as the teams who continued to deliver compassionate care throughout the construction programme. It also celebrated the positive difference the new facilities are already making to patient experience, recovery and wellbeing.
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