Mitford Unit, Adult Autism

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The new Adult Autism Unit for inpatients is located on the existing Northgate Hospital site in Morpeth, Northumberland, UK.  The facility provides 24-hour support and treatment for adults with complex autistic spectrum disorders, replacing two outdated buildings on the site which have been deemed not fit for purpose. The Mitford Unit Adult Autism Unit provides high-quality accommodation for adults with autistic spectrum disorders in a calming, therapeutic and safe environment that has incorporated design best practice from around the world.

Specific engineering design efforts included lighting and control, acoustic treatment throughout and reactive and rapid heating / cooling systems within bedrooms. The building design includes residential accommodation for up to fifteen adults, in single and shared flats within the four ‘fingers’ of accommodation. A range of internal and external shared areas is also provided, offering opportunity for sensory, therapy and recreational activity.  Design drivers include the graduation from public to private space, to ensure that the vulnerability of each patient is protected.

The new unit has been operational since December 2016 and has delivered many of the Trust’s key objectives. It has improved the quality of clinical care for service users by delivering a fully integrated service in a purpose-built environment that incorporates best practice from around the world. The new unit has allowed the Trust to implement a new model of care that combines a focused admission and treatment pathway of 18 months that prepares the service user for transition back into the community.