Pictured laying the cornerstone (left to right) are: Cllr Brian Taylor, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Roy Kenny, Chief Executive, Verum Victum Healthcare.
Published Wednesday 12 September 2018 at 10:45
Council and NHS representatives celebrated progress on Blackburn’s newest piece of healthcare infrastructure by laying its cornerstone yesterday.
The £12.5m Albion Mill extra care facility will provide 109 beds, including 50 extra care apartments, 31 en-suite rooms for intermediate care, 24 dementia apartments and 4 rehabilitation apartments and is being developed by specialist developer Verum Victum Healthcare.
The new home will provide state of the art facilities for elderly people in Blackburn. Roy Kenny, Chief Executive of Verum Victum Healthcare, said:
Our facilities really are at the cutting edge and we’ve worked closely with the local NHS and the Council to shape our plans. By mixing extra care, specialised dementia care and intermediate care in one bespoke development we can deliver enhanced outcomes at a lower cost to local authorities and clinical commissioners.
Two four-storey residential blocks will be linked by a three-storey building providing communal areas for use by the residents including dining room, TV lounge, library, hair salon, gym, consulting rooms, kitchen and staff accommodation. The development will also include provision of landscaping, parking, roadways and footpaths.
Welcoming the investment, Cllr Brian Taylor, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said:
This project offers so much potential to improve the quality of life for our older people and help maintain independence. The health and social care sector is increasingly working in collaboration. We have modelled this scheme on the need for a more integrated and seamless approach. It is the first time in this borough that a range of services for older and infirm people will be brought together on one site. The intermediate care provision is jointly commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and the borough’s Clinical Commissioning Group. It will be a great asset for our communities.
Bardsley Construction has been tasked with delivering the facility, which is scheduled for completion in early 2020.