(l-r): Clinton Brewer from Ian Williams; David Wood, Chief Executive of Age UK Plymouth; Elizabeth Edwards-Smith, Age UK Plymouth; Sandra Pentney, Project Manager for Plymouth City Council and Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council at the William and Patricia Venton Centre
Refurbishment work is now underway to create the first ‘short-term care centre’ for Plymouth, to help people to recover from illness and to stay well.
The City Council is working in partnership with Age UK Plymouth and NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (Devon CCG) to refurbish the upper two floors of the William and Patricia Venton Centre, which is near to Mount Gould Hospital.
The short-term care centre will provide accommodation for patients to stay after they have been in hospital. This could be for up to six weeks, with support from therapists and assistive technology and opportunities to engage in social activities in the rest of the building. The aim is that when people leave the centre they are feeling much better, and ready to go home and live as independently as possible.
The centre will help with making sure people don’t stay in hospital any longer than they need to and will also be accessible to wheelchair users.
The care centre will also offer support to older people who would otherwise be at risk of being admitted to hospital. This will also support the wider Plymouth health and social care system to reduce pressures on Derriford Hospital.
Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “We are delighted to be making progress on such an important project to support more people to be able to recover from illness and stay well rather than occupying a hospital bed at Derriford. Partnership working with Age UK Plymouth has been key to getting the project to this stage and we are really excited to take the next steps in getting the building ready to support the people of Plymouth.”
The building used to be a residential care home and the refurbishment works will update the 24 en-suite bedrooms and provide space for lounges and offices. Age UK Plymouth’s day centre for adults will remain on the ground floor.
Age UK Plymouth Chair, Liz Edwards-Smith said: “Trustees are delighted that work is commencing on the short-term care centre. We are pleased to have been able to work with partners in the city to develop a facility that will offer those in later life a chance to regain their strength and confidence before returning home to continue to live as independently as possible.”
Age UK Plymouth’s new Chief Executive Officer, David Wood said: “The short-term care centre will act as a catalyst as we look to enhance and develop the services we offer to those in later life in Plymouth. We are determined to contribute more extensively and to positively impact on older people’s quality of life in our communities.”
The refurbishment works are being carried out by Ian Williams. Business Manager Clinton Brewer said: “We are one of the UK’s largest independently-owned property services companies and have been a long-term major employer in Plymouth for the last 40 years. We are extremely proud to be supporting this project.
“We currently employ 64 colleagues including 50 trade operatives with various skillsets including multi-trade, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, plasterers, tilers, roofers and decorators. We are also proud to have eight apprentices and two Trainee Surveyors taking their first steps on the career ladder in Plymouth with our business”.
The Council is investing £823,410 capital funding into the refurbishment and will lease part of the building from Age UK Plymouth.