A new £45 million mental health unit aimed at revolutionizing inpatient care in Surrey has officially opened its doors to patients.
The Silverwood facility, located at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, welcomed its first patients on Monday. The state-of-the-art unit features 64 en-suite bedrooms and includes four adult mental health wards. The facility replaces the Abraham Cowley Unit, which was demolished in 2022.
Designed with patient well-being in mind, Silverwood offers a variety of therapeutic spaces, including a music room, art room, sensory room, and sports facilities. Outdoor spaces such as gardens and a woodland walk are also part of the complex, promoting both physical and mental recovery.
Graham Wareham, Chief Executive of Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, described the facility as a “safe, spacious, and therapeutic environment.” He emphasized the importance of feedback from service users in shaping the design, ensuring that it meets the needs of those using the services.
“This input has been invaluable in creating an environment that will truly support recovery,” Wareham said.
The new facility is expected to reduce the reliance on private mental health beds, which often require patients to travel long distances for treatment. The construction of the building began in November 2022 and was completed in September 2024.
Patients currently placed in private beds will gradually transition to Silverwood in the coming weeks. An official opening ceremony is scheduled for later this year.
Wendy Smith from the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People expressed pride in seeing the ideas and feedback from individuals with lived experience incorporated into the facility’s design. “I’m proud to know that this new space will provide comfort and hope and promote recovery for many adults for years to come,” Smith said.
