Meridian Healthcare celebrate after winning major UK healthcare design award

The North West’s premier independent care provider, Meridian Healthcare, celebrated after winning a major UK healthcare design award for The Millbrook Care Centre in Tameside.

The Millbrook care centre in Stalybridge picked up the award for Best Healthcare Design at an event hosted by Pinders at Lords Cricket Ground on 22 March.   Up against stiff competition from around the UK, the judges reported that The Millbrook was ‘simply the best’ and that “The home had a very special feel and offered superb standard of accommodation for older people”.   

The Millbrook is the first in Meridian’s ‘Premiere’ range of homes offering superior facilities and services. It was formally opened to residents in November 2012 by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. Based in Hyde, Meridian Healthcare have a history of building award winning care homes, with two other care centres having won best Healthcare Design Awards in previous years.

Built in the conservation area of Millbrook in Stalybridge, the site was originally a school built in 1849. With a long history of involvement in the community including supporting the war effort by ensuring children were well fed during the day, the site holds a special place in the hearts of the people in Millbrook.

“Investing into our care services and our people is our priority; however creating a happy environment through excellent design is important too. We feel very privileged to have been part of the Millbrook School’s history and to have helped retain the building for future generations to come.” commented Managing Director Susan Firth

The Millbrook provides personal care services for people looking for respite or long term care.  The home offers luxury accommodation and includes a hairdressing salon, piano lounge, library and cinema on site for the pleasure of residents.

Architects Quadrant ABS worked with Tameside planners to preserve the look and feel of the original school and many of the original features. A key element of the design was to retain the look of the school from the main Huddersfield Road which runs through the village. The resulting building has a beautiful, airy lounge and restaurant, light rooms and benefits from being at the centre of Millbrook village.  Original beams from the main school room have been cleaned up and retained along with many other external architectural details.  As an added bonus, residents can sit on the sheltered sun deck or in one of the lounges with views of the nearby hills. 

Meridian is no stranger to awards. This is the third Pinders Healthcare Design Award won by the company. The company has a string of other accolades to their name including Best Care Team, Care Centre Manager of the Year, Activities Coordinator, Dignity in Care, end of life care, and is also an NHS approved provider of Continuing Healthcare.  Most recently, Investors in People awarded Meridian ‘Gold’ for their commitment into investment into training and development.

Further information about Meridian Healthcare can be found at www.meridiancare.co.uk