Accessing mental health services in South Wales has been made even more possible thanks to the recent refurbishment of the former Gellinudd Hospital. We lead the redevelopment of the Gellinudd Recovery Centre in Pontardawe, on behalf of third sector, not-for-profit mental health charity, Hafal. The centre will ensure specialist rehabilitation and treatment can be delivered throughout the area.
The project, which was completed in December 2016 and had a contract value of £647,957, saw the creation of a brand new mental health recovery centre and the rejuvenation of the former Gellinudd Community Elderly Mental Inform (EMI) Hospital.
“The Gellinudd Recovery Centre will provide a ground breaking new in-patient service for people with mental illness. We are proud to have led the project which saw the development of a 16-bed facility complete with en-suites, gym, multi-faith room, café, lounge and log cabin. The centre is the first of its kind in Wales and the UK, and its recovery programme has been developed and implemented by carers who have overcome mental health issues themselves,” said Mark Bowen, Managing Director
In addition to offering a unique, progressive service to patients, the centre will also work to generate savings for the NHS in Wales as management of such conditions in a mainstream hospital can incur particularly high costs. The Gellinudd Recovery Centre is estimated to save the local health board Abertawe Bro Morgannwg up to £300,000 each year. The centre will also free up costly places across local hospitals in Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.
“Thanks to investment of £500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, the Welsh Government’s ‘Invest to Save’ funding and the work completed by our team, the treatment centre will provide an inspirational environment for sustainable recovery. The 16-week project was a great success and we were able to not just meet but exceed Hafal’s expectations. The Gellinudd Recovery Centre was officially opened in January this year and is already delivering extraordinary care to the people who need it,” concluded Mark.
The project has been shortlisted for the 2017 Constructing Excellence in Wales, Value Award.