Down to Dumfries

Today, Johnathan and I had a very achieving day visiting NHS Dumfries & Galloway.

Here is Midpark Hospital, which is an Acute Mental Health Unit opened in 2012, replacing the Crichton Hospital and other smaller facilities. The hospital is run by NHS Dumfries and Galloway, providing 6 wards and 85 inpatient beds.

The site is typified by its colourful planting and useful, therapeutic outdoor spaces. The building incorporates best practice design for people with dementia and mental illness and has received a BREEAM rating of "excellent".

The entrance garden DoubleWalk was designed by Jencks2, a partnership between Charles Jencks and Lilly Jencks. The garden features a 'landform' typical of Charles Jencks' work. He describes it as "A landform that pulls in the distant landscape of the Criffel mountain, the Nith River, Dumfries and the cosmic setting."

The hospital has won many awards including: Health Facilities Scotland Awards, Design Commendation (2012), NHS Scotland HFS Environment and Design Award (2015), BREEM awards 2015, shortlisted.

Always a delight to visit to meet the very committed staff, in this therapeutic environment.

The weather is Dumfries was great too.