A planning application has been submitted to Worcester City Council for a new seclusion suite at the Elgar Unit of Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
A seclusion suite is a specialised room, designed for the containment of patients which may be locked to prevent others from harm according to NHS England.
A planning application, proposed by the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust to Worcester City council, would see a single-storey extension built at the western end of Worcester Royal Hospital’s Elgar Unit.
The extension would add to the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) on Newtown Road.
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The new suite would provide two purpose-built seclusion rooms and an observation area, alongside associated mechanical and electrical plant.
A design and access statement supporting the application said: “As part of a recent trust-wide assessment, it was decided that a seclusion suite would be beneficial for the treatment of patients.
“The service would also be beneficial to the local area and the seclusion suite service would be offered to local institutions requiring it.”
The trust said the facility would help reduce the need to transfer patients off-site for seclusion, improving patient outcomes and reducing costs.
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The works would involve demolition of the existing ward lounge, changes to boundary fencing, and hard landscaping, including resurfacing the patient transfer bay.
Mechanical plant would be housed in a dedicated compound to the rear of an old generator building, allowing the extension to operate independently of the existing ward systems.
The extension would also use materials matching the existing buildings, including red and blue brick, brown clay roof tiles, and powder-coated aluminium windows and doors.
Secure fencing would be installed to match the height and appearance of existing perimeter fencing.
Additionally, bird and bat boxes would be installed to support biodiversity.
A tree protection plan has been prepared to ensure all protected trees are retained during construction.
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What is a seclusion suite?
A seclusion suite is a specialised room, designed for the containment of patients who pose a risk to themselves or others.
It is often used as a last resort to manage aggressive behaviour but is governed by strict regulations to ensure a patient’s safety and dignity.