'Earthquake-like' noise delays new hospital build

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said "unforeseen technical issues" with the ground works were causing the delay

The multi-million pound refurbishment of a mental health unit in Derby has been paused due to "exceptional additional noise" affecting nearby staff and patients.

The Radbourne unit, next to the Royal Derby Hospital, is being refurbished as part of a national push to get rid of the use of dormitories in mental health facilities.

It is set to provide two 17-bed wards with single en-suite rooms, as well as additional staffing.

The facility was originally meant to open its doors by spring 2025 but Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said autumn 2025 was now more likely - though that remains "a challenge" due to financial difficulties.

Two other new acute units - the Derwent and Carsington units - will now open in spring 2025, having initially been set to open this autumn.

Meanwhile two adult acute mental health units at Audrey House in Derby and Bluebell ward in Chesterfield have also experienced shorter delays due to specification changes and supply issues, but are expected to open in spring 2025 and before the end of this winter respectively.

Work on the Radbourne unit will be paused until patients have been moved across into these two facilities.

The financial impact of the delay is currently unknown.

The Radbourne project was already facing "increased cost pressures" according to trust papers, which also stated that completing the project next year "without national support... is a challenge".

Staff requested delay

The trust said it had "taken the decision to pause the work" on the Radbourne Unit.

It continued: "Unfortunately, unforeseen technical issues with the ground works and foundations have led to some exceptional additional noisy works being required for extensive periods of time, over a material period of the construction phase.

"This made working and caring for patients very difficult."

Hospital board directors heard at a meeting on Tuesday that staff had compared the noise disruption to an "earthquake" and many had themselves requested a delay to the works.

Directors however stressed that "the spirit is still there to get the building over the line" despite the difficulties.

"We're managing [the challenges]," said Tony Edwards, who chairs the board's finance committee.

The government pledged more than £400m in 2020 to eradicate the use of dormitory accommodation from mental health facilities across the country to improve safety and enhance the dignity of patients.

This included more than £150m for new facilities across Derbyshire.