Silverwood Royal Opening

Silverwood, Surrey’s mental health inpatient service, has now been officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester. Silverwood has been up and running since February year, on the site of the old Abraham Cowley Unit at St Peter’s hospital in Chertsey and had its royal opening on Tuesday 31st March.

The Duchess toured the building and chatted with staff, people staying in Silverwood, and the team who designed and developed it. In the therapies department she joined in activities including decorating cupcakes and creating a sensory box.

Wendy Smith, from the Coalition’s mental health team, was introduced to the Duchess. Wendy explained her role in the project, speaking to people with lived experience of using mental health services, their families and carers about what mattered most to them, and representing those opinions throughout the design, development and delivery of Silverwood.

The Duchess was keen to hear about the importance of involving people with lived experience in the project, and how that shaped the overall design.

Wendy explained that people had said they needed more control over their own bedrooms, with the final design including natural daylight through windows that safely open to provide fresh air, and controls to adjust the heating and lighting.

She highlighted the importance of the ward gardens providing access to outside spaces so people can feel less enclosed, have a space to relax or be active and see the sky while feeling the sun on their skin.

The Duchess asked Wendy her favourite feature, which is the sensory spaces on every ward with interactive projections on the floor, colour changing lights and a bubble wall to help people relax and regulate their emotional state.