This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

Community mental health services are now being offered from more modern, easily accessible premises in Norwich following a £600,000 refurbishment project by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).
The trust invested the money in redesigning the decommissioned Henderson Ward at the Julian Hospital site in Bowthorpe Road into a new base for the city’s three community mental healthcare teams.
A new clinic room has been created where staff can carry out treatments and physical health checks, as well as a large space for group therapy and training. Space has been allocated for patient consultations, and a new waiting room and reception area have been completed.
The creation of the unit, called The City Anchorage, means that city-based community staff who were previously spread across two sites can now work more effectively and from that base.
The relocation has also seen additional staff recruited to fill vacancies and help further improve the quality of the service provided to patients receiving mental healthcare within the community.
Elizabeth Smith, acting service manager with adult community services, said: “We are delighted with our new, redesigned and refurbished base. It is helping us to further improve the services we provide to service users, while also ensuring they are delivered from the best possible environment.
“Our new HQ means we are now able to start offering more group sessions and improve recovery rates, while we also have access to all our consultants if needed. It also includes a treatment room so that our staff can better support and monitor the physical health needs of our service users.
“The City Anchorage is also much more central than our previous bases, which has brought care closer to home for a lot of people and made it easier for them to access.
“We’ve had some great feedback so far, with both service users and staff enjoying the new environment and the benefits it is bringing.”
This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly