Rowanbank’s design and layout was developed over many months and incorporates many of the latest features and technology used in other parts of the country. The aim from the very beginning was to create a bright, modern and attractive environment which would aid the recovery of patients and provide a good working environment for our staff.

In many ways, the layout and design of Rowanbank Clinic is similar to other modern mental health hospitals. For example, it is single storey, has small wards with individual bedrooms, separate therapy areas and consulting rooms.

Before finalising the design, staff visited similar centres in other parts of the UK to look at best practice, identify what layout works well and explore the latest technology available. By learning from this experience and taking on board feedback from local staff and patients, we now have one of the most modern, innovative secure care centres in the country.

Features include a single point of entry into the main building, with CCTV cameras and airport style security checks for anyone entering and leaving the building. In addition, none of the areas used by patients have any external windows or doors and instead face onto an internal courtyard.

Although it does have additional security features these have been built into the design and fabric of the building to ensure they are not obvious or intrusive to the surrounding area. By doing this we have avoided the need for external perimeter walls or fences. This is particularly important as Rowanbank Clinic is an NHS hospital not a prison.