ONCE it was home to some of Britain’s most notorious criminals. And, of course, gave out a weekly siren warning.
But work on new buildings at Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne have moved on at quite a pace and last Friday, representatives from the NHS as well as Bracknell MP Dr Phillip Lee visited the centre for a commissioning ceremony. It was also attended by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office.
The visitors were taken on a tour of the new facilities, which fall under the aegis of the West London NHS Trust and will receive its first patients by the end of the year.
Unlike its Victorian predecessor, which opened in 1863, it uses natural light and bright decor to create open spaces, while the wards are now named after London Underground lines.
Carolyn Regan, the NHS Trust’s Chief Executive said, “We were really pleased to welcome Phillip Lee, along with the Police and Crime Commissioner and his Deputy, to our new Broadmoor Hospital. Dr Lee has always been a staunch supporter of the hospital and has visited many times in the past.
“As we ramp up our preparations for staff and patients to move in, it was good to show all of them how the new buildings will provide a much more modern and therapeutic environment for patients.
Dr Lee said he was impressed with the new facilities: “Having taken a keen interest in Broadmoor and its redevelopment since the project began, I’m very pleased with the result.
“Although I’ve visited the construction site several times, I still found the completed facility extremely impressive, and I can see how patients, carers and staff will benefit greatly from the environment in the new hospital. I’ve always been immensely proud of having Broadmoor Hospital in my constituency, and feel even more so, after seeing all the improvements at first hand.”
Speaking for the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Deputy PCC Matthew Barber added: “The new facilities at Broadmoor are a huge step forward. Dealing with the secure hospitals such as Broadmoor as well as the many prisons in Thames Valley presents a challenge for the police. It was a good opportunity to discuss the issues of crime within the hospital and to ensure we strike the right balance to protect staff, patients and the public.”
