Hammerton Court, next to the Julian Hospital in Colman Road, Norwich, has 36 bedrooms and is a state of the art building, purpose built for dementia care and developed in partnership with service users, family carers and staff.

Maggie Wheeler, Chair of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said “ We are immensely proud of Hammerton Court and excited about the significant role it will play in providing care for people with dementia in Norfolk.

“The building forms part of a suite of dementia services the Trust has developed that also includes a community based intensive support team to allow us to provide care as far as possible in the community. From the outset this project has captured people’s imaginations and I am sure this will continue once the building is open allowing friends, family, carers, patients and staff to support the changing dementia care ethos.”

Councillor Jenny Lay, the Lord Mayor of Norwich will officially open Hammerton Court at a ceremony on 14 March.

The building has been named in the memory of the late Cressida Hammerton, who worked closely with the Trust and dementia services in Norfolk following the death of her husband, Peter, who had the condition.

Each bedroom contains a wealth of assisted technology allowing patients to be as independent as possible, with light sensors in the bathrooms and automatic water switch off. This assistive technology will also help the nurses and carers see when a patient is out of bed from outside the room, giving more privacy to the patient. Significant attention to detail such as texture, sound and colour has been used to maximise the environment as a fantastic place for patients, carers and staff.

The building is environmentally friendly with features such as a “live” green roof which will provide a haven for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. There is under floor heating; ground source heat pumps and solar panels to generate hot water and electricity. Large windows, high ceiling design and skylights will capitalise on natural light, and combined with modern decor will make the unit feel like a high specification home.

Hammerton Court will be the hub for the Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance, which will act as the vehicle for research, training, education and public awareness in relation to dementia. It will also contain a community café, public information hub and training facilities for partner organisations and stakeholders. Hammerton Court represents Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment to radically redesigning and improving the care pathway and quality of services for people with dementia.

The state of the art building, designed with architect Ingleton Wood and built by contractor R G Carter, has been designed using the latest research and expertise around person centred dementia care.

The official opening of Hammerton Court will be a celebration of the hard work and dedication shown by all those involved in the bringing the project to life. It will also mark the beginning of a change in dementia care in Norfolk.