Stirling’s new Bellfield Centre is in caring hands thanks to the hard work and dedication of its staff to get it fully operational.

Since it opened, staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help deliver a smooth transition for service users from care homes at Beech Gardens, Allan Lodge and wards within Stirling Community Hospital.

The Bellfield Centre, which forms part of the new £37m Stirling Health and Care Village, provides short-term in-patient care, assessment or rehabilitation for people who require additional support following an operation or illness, including stroke.

The Centre has the capacity to care for 116 people across four short-stay areas (Thistle, Wallace, Argyll & Castle Suites), and also provides support for people with dementia and those who need palliative or end of life care.

In addition, it offers landscaped areas and a multipurpose area which can be used by local community groups and volunteers. Art work has been installed and an artist in residence has been appointed who will carry out projects within the Bellfield Centre with the assistance of the service users.

Intermediate Care Manager at the Bellfield Centre, Avril Bruce, said: “Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated staff we have successfully met the challenge to support and implement the integration of different workforces.

“Our staff are determined to deliver on the vision of the Bellfield Centre which, through the integration of these workforces, will see the service users benefit enormously from the care provided.

“Feedback from service users, families, carers and visitors has been very positive, in particular highlighting our friendly and approachable staff. They have also praised the environment, describing it as homely and inviting, and have loved the idea of making tea or coffee with their family member, as most rooms offer their own mini kitchen and the social spaces have kitchen areas.”

Rita Ciccu Moore, Deputy Nurse Director, NHS Forth Valley, said: “Bringing health and social care staff together in this fantastic modern facility has improved communication and helped us provide more seamless care to local people. We are already seeing the benefits of this joint working, not only between the NHS and local council, but also with wider community groups and voluntary organisations across the Stirling area.”

Convenor of Stirling Council’s Adult Social Care Panel, Councillor Susan McGill, said: “The new Centre is making a significant contribution to delivering health and social care services in Stirling, and a large part of that is down to the fantastic work of the staff. Great work has gone into its design to provide a sensitive and caring environment where the necessary care for local people is being delivered by kind, dedicated and passionate health workers.”

Key design features include:

• Green spaces – a village green, landscaping with new planting and trees, therapeutic courtyard gardens, roof terraces enclosed with special safety balustrades which offer access to outdoor spaces and fresh air from upper floors, raised planters for gardening and walkways to nearby woodland.
• Entrance plazas and social areas, including communal dining areas, to encourage greater interaction and provide spaces for gathering and activities.
• Design and wayfinding – en-suite rooms to maintain dignity and privacy which can be adapted to suit individual needs, use of colour, contrast, signage, acoustics and lighting to support wayfinding and create a stimulating, warm and comforting environment.
• Inside spaces with reminiscence and memorabilia resources.