Abingdon Manor Care Centre wins major UK design award

Abingdon Manor Care Centre has won the prestigious title of ‘Best New Development (Specialist Care)’ at the annual Healthcare Design Awards in London.

The only care centre from Northern Ireland to enter the awards, Abingdon Manor was judged by a panel of experienced healthcare valuers, architects, developers, lenders and charitable bodies representing the residents’ views of home design and build.

The Healthcare Design Awards highlight the excellence in the Care Home Sector and the achievements of a wide range of designers, developers and operators. Encompassing all aspects of care provision, including specialist homes for those with disabilities or handicap as well as assisted living complexes for the elderly.

Abingdon Manor, based in Belfast, represents the latest in 24-hour multi-disciplinary healthcare for those with physical and learning disabilities as well as the elderly mentally infirm and frail elderly. The building offers up to four different types of care in small, ‘family’ units of 10 providing a solution to an institutionalised and impersonal atmosphere.

Mr Desmond Wilson, Managing Director of Wilson Developments, who project managed the building of Abingdon Manor, said: “We are pleased to receive this award for the design of our new care centre – Abingdon Manor. The Group is committed to developing the latest concepts in nursing care while retaining a family atmosphere. Receiving this award proves we have achieved our goal of creating a modern facility capable of caring for varying types of residents.

“We invested over £2 million into the building of the centre to ensure provision of ensuite facilities in all bedrooms, private and accessible garden facilities, and a comfortable and spacious environment for residents. We have a staff of 80 ensuring our residents receive optimum attention at all times.”

Abingdon Manor has capacity for 60 residents in six separate suites and each wing has been specifically designed and modified both aesthetically and functionally to offer the highest level of care available for the needs of each category of resident.

Abingdon Manor is part of the Wilson Group of nursing homes and opened in April 2001. Other properties owned by the Group include; Chester and Whitehead Nursing Homes in Whitehead and Ballymaconnell Nursing Home in Bangor.

(SP)