New Gartnavel Royal Hospital

The purpose-built new Gartnavel Royal Hospital has set a new benchmark for mental health design in the UK. The hospital is part of a wider master plan for the development of the Gartnavel site in Glasgow as well as for the provision of improved and modernised mental health facilities and services across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

From the project’s inception, macmon, Young & Gault and Robertson worked closely with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, staff, technical advisers and patient representatives to create a bright and modern environment which would facilitate patients’ recovery and provide an attractive working environment for staff.

As the project was to be provided under the PFI system Young and Gault were commissioned to produce the Public Sector Comparator, a designed and costed scheme against which bids from the Private Sector would be invited.

The design follows a ‘hub’ and ‘spokes’ layout. All administrative, therapy and counselling services are located in the two storey central building from which single storey wards extend on either side. The six adult, elderly and IPCU wards provide a total of 117 beds, all in single en-suite bedroom accommodation. Facilities also include a patient gym, a therapy kitchen, group and individual therapy spaces, an on-site advocacy service, a multi faith retreat and a family friendly room specially geared towards children visiting relatives. The Hub Café, situated in the spacious reception area, is open to patients, visitors, members of staff and the general public.

The hospital meets with the latest mental health care facilities design standards which recognize the impact that the physical environment has on the quality of treatment, rehabilitation and recovery of patients. Natural lighting and ventilation are an integral part of the building and the sense of space and light is further accentuated by the large windows overlooking the courtyards and landscaped gardens, bringing the outside in.

The new Gartnavel Royal Hospital was officially opened by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon on 7th April 2008.