Stockport Community Hospital has celebrated the successful handover of its Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract, marking the end of a long-term partnership.

The Meadows, which offers specialized mental health and care services for older adults in Stockport, is nearing the end of its 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract. Established in 1999 on the former Offerton Mental Hospital site, The Meadows was an innovative project developed by Walker Healthcare in collaboration with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. It has played a crucial role in delivering a range of healthcare services to the local community, including specialized support for mental health, dementia, and cognitive impairments in older individuals. The facility is purpose-built, covering about 4,500 square meters, and offers assessments, treatment, support, and care services for older adults and their families.

Services offered include acute mental health wards for older individuals who cannot be cared for in the community, a memory assessment team that evaluates and diagnoses those with memory conditions, and a community mental health liaison service for people over 65 facing mental health issues. Additionally, there are palliative care services for dementia patients and step-down care for individuals transitioning from acute hospital settings. Walker Healthcare, a branch of the independent Scottish company James Walker Leith Ltd, handled the redevelopment of The Meadows and oversees a network of care homes and hospitals throughout the UK.