Over 300 staff, service users and visitors put their judging talents to good use to vote on the new ward names for Penn Hospital during a month-long consultation.

The local judges had a short list to choose from, including local park names and local wildlife seen around Penn.

They opted for natural habitats or features – Meadow ward, Dale ward, Brook ward.

The wards have been allocated the names as follows:

• Male ward,  Brook Ward.

• Female ward – Dale Ward.

• Older adults ward – Meadow Ward.

The consultation took place in February following a presentation to the Make a Difference Group (service user group), Wolverhampton Governors, and staff at Penn Hospital.

The group chose four themes to create the final short list. The short list was emailed out to all staff and posted on Facebook for a wider consultation. The naming of the new wards is part of a £10 million refurbishment project of Penn Hospital which is already two-thirds completed.

Patients from Jasmine ward moved across into the new male ward in December. Patients and staff were visited by Chief Executive Karen Dowman and Chairman Bob Piper before Christmas, who presented patients and staff with a hamper to mark the completion of the first phase.

The second phase of the project saw the opening of the older people’s ward. The new location offers accommodation for 16 patients, and provides additional space to promote a calm, therapeutic environment.

The ward caters for both male and female patients in separate areas and with separate facilities prioritising privacy and dignity. The final phase of the project will be completed by the end of the summer with the opening of a new female adult ward as well as a therapy services area.

Chief Executive Karen Dowman said: “ I think these are excellent choices for the new ward names as they reflect our work to bring the ‘outdoors indoors’ at Penn Hospital and create an airy and relaxing place for people to recover.”