Lee Wakemans have been appointed through the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) ‘Designed for Life: Building for Wales’ procurement initiative to provide cost consultancy advice to ABMU Health Board’s Reshaping Mental Health Services in Swansea (RMHSS).

The RMHSS development program provides an investment of circa £70M to upgrade the existing mental health estate. In particular, Phase 2 involves the development of a 60-bed Intermediate Care facility at Cefn Coed Hospital, replacing existing dilapidated facilities on this site and at Garngoch Hospital.

The centre, which focuses on maintaining independence and supporting clients into longer term residential and community placements, will serve adults with dementia, and older, frailer adults with depression and psychoses. The build will consist of three elliptical wards, each providing 20 single sex bedrooms, with en-suites and therapeutic facilities, which are linked together via common core and communication space, with additional visiting areas including facilities for family members to stay overnight.

The centre promotes the use of assistive technology, allowing patients to maintain a lesser degree of dependence, provide privacy and enhanced safety. Technology featured includes sensors set to turn off taps when there is a risk of water overflowing, and timed door sensors that alert a care service or family member if an external door is opened at night.

RMHSS Phase 2 has a target cost established at £11.8M for the construction of the building, which is due for completion in early 2012.