Closure of Lambeth Hospital
This week marked a key milestone for the Trust as the final wards and services departed from Lambeth Hospital and we closed the site. Ward in the Community (WiC) and Tony Hillis Unit (THU) were the last two wards to leave, moving to locations at Bethlem Royal Hospital.
Following a smooth relocation process, staff described the move as “a very exciting new chapter,” and reflected on the hard work it took to deliver the moves. Both wards are now settling into their new homes.
Lisa Town, Programme Manager - Croydon Adult and Behavioural & Developmental Psychiatry Directorate, reflected on the WiC move:
“The move has been a significant and positive step forward, bringing all forensic inpatient services together on the Bethlem campus and creating greater opportunities for collaboration across teams. The new environment provides a more therapeutic setting for patients, alongside stronger clinical support and closer multidisciplinary working.
“Patient feedback so far has been fantastic, with many expressing how pleased they are with the new space and looking forward to settling into a warm and welcoming environment. A huge credit to the patients and staff involved, who have embraced the change with remarkable resilience and commitment.”
New beginnings
Closing Lambeth Hospital is a significant moment for the whole Trust. The site has been home to a hospital for over 150 years, from the original Stockwell Hospital to Tooting Bec, to Lambeth Hospital which opened in 1996. Since then, our staff and volunteers have supported thousands of service users.
The Trust will continue to provide healthcare and support to people living in the London Borough of Lambeth, and services have relocated to alternative sites across the Trust. Most of the wards from Lambeth Hospital have moved to the state-of-the-art New Douglas Bennett House, which will provide a more therapeutic environment for our service users.
New locations can be found on the relevant service pages
And although we are sad to be saying goodbye, the legacy of the Lambeth Hospital site will endure as it will go onto support the people of Lambeth in a new way. Earlier this year the Trust announced the agreement to sell the site to Legal & General. In the coming months we will be handing over the site so plans to deliver a £350m redevelopment of around 700 homes, including affordable housing, can begin to be realised.