PSA provided MEP engineering for the refurbishment of Ancora House at the Countess of Chester Hospital site to create a specialist day hospital for young people with eating disorders. The Cheshire and Merseyside Adolescent Eating Disorder Service supports people to remain well in the community without hospital admission. Working with a tight budget, we carried out extensive value engineering to deliver a compliant design that met mental health facility requirements. The project included anti-ligature fittings and anti-tamper fixtures throughout, with careful specification to prevent self-harm whilst maintaining a welcoming environment. We worked closely with Gilling Dod Architects, JFW Construction, and GR Bradshaw to deliver the refurbishment within the operational hospital site.
CLIENT: Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Trust
LOCATION: Chester
BUILD: Refurbishment
RIBA STAGES: 4 & 5
SERVICES: Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Onsite Inspections
CLIENT OBJECTIVES
The client needed to create a dedicated day hospital facility for adolescents with eating disorders, providing a safe, therapeutic environment for group activities, consultations and supervised meals. The space needed to include small and large activity rooms, consulting rooms, a dining area, kitchen and offices. As a mental health facility, all fixtures and fittings had to meet anti-ligature requirements to protect vulnerable young people. The refurbishment had to be completed within a tight budget whilst the surrounding hospital remained operational. The design needed to comply with all relevant British Standards for healthcare environments whilst creating a space that felt supportive rather than clinical.
OUR SOLUTION
The team delivered RIBA Stage 4 technical design and Stage 5 onsite inspection services for the refurbishment, working within the constraints of the existing building structure. The flat roof construction made routing services challenging, so we developed solutions that avoided removing internal ceilings.
Our design included:
- Lighting and power systems
- Heating and ventilation
- Water services
- Fire detection and alarm
- Staff attack alarm system
We specified anti-ligature light fittings and fixtures throughout, using anti-tamper screws and anti-pick mastic around all electrical accessories to prevent interference. With the project facing budget constraints, we conducted thorough value engineering, reviewing alternative products and solutions whilst ensuring all proposals remained compliant with British Standards.
THE OUTCOME
The day hospital opened successfully, providing the team with a dedicated facility to support young people with eating disorders. The value engineering work helped deliver the project within budget constraints, and the client was pleased with the completed facility. The space now provides a safe, supportive environment for treatment and recovery.
