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Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People
Relocating Neuro Rehabilitation Services to a
Care and Rehabilitation Centre at Leatherhead Court
Consultation Paper
Introduction
The Board of Trustees of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) wishes to
consult a range of stakeholders on a proposal to relocate Neuro Rehabilitation Services (NRS)
from its current location at Banstead Place, Park Road, Banstead, Surrey to a new building on
land owned by QEF at Leatherhead Court , Woodlands Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BN.
The purpose of this paper is to explain the proposal and the reasons for it, and to seek your
views. While a decision in principle has been made to make this move, we want to seek your
opinions on how it should best be achieved.
Details of the method and timeframe for responding to this consultation are at the end of the
document.
Background
QEF has been operating from Banstead Place since 1956. Since the 1980s it has specialised in
delivering rehabilitation, therapy and education for mainly younger people with acquired brain
injury.
With a capacity of 28 beds plus outpatients, Banstead Place is registered with the Care Quality
Commission (CQC) and Ofsted.
Banstead Place is a Grade II* listed former private house built in 1790 with adjoining and
associated buildings added more recently.
QEF has owned land at Leatherhead Court since the 1930s and the potential exists to create a
purpose built Care and Rehabilitation Centre within which neuro rehabilitation services can be
accommodated.
The proposal
The proposal, which is subject to amended planning permission being granted for the
redevelopment of Leatherhead Court, is to vacate Banstead Place and to provide neuro
rehabilitation services from a state of the art new building at Leatherhead Court.
Financial Considerations
In December 2013 QEF completed a stock condition survey of its property portfolio. This
indicated that the estimated cost of essential remedial and maintenance works at Banstead
Place in the next five years would amount to £0.8 million. Most of the bedrooms at Banstead do
not have ensuite bathrooms and it is considered that this is no longer appropriate for young
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people with acquired brain injury. Additionally we believe that the lack of ensuite
accommodation is having and will continue to have a negative effect on client referrals to NRS.
The estimated cost of upgrading 20 bedrooms at Banstead Place is £2.0 million. The total cost of
staying at Banstead therefore amounts to £2.8 million. The estimated cost of building a brand
new centre at Leatherhead with 24 rooms (£7 million) less the potential value raised from the
sale of Banstead Place (£5 million) amounts to £2 million net. The financial case for relocation is
therefore strong both in the short term and in the future with reduced maintenance and energy
costs.
The cost of operating in a listed building surrounded by a variety of dated single storey buildings
should not be underestimated. For example, the gas consumption at Banstead Place in the final
quarter of 2013 was over 40% more than that consumed at Dorincourt.
This basic cost analysis is reproduced in a table at Annex A.
A major fundraising campaign will also be undertaken over 18 months to raise funds for the fit out
of the rooms in the new centre which will raise additional income for the charity and generate
new individual donors, foundations and businesses who will give to QEF for the first time.
We anticipate there would be a cost associated with potential reduced occupancy prior to the
move (as we would want to minimise disruption caused to individual clients) and some staff
changes (as the staffing requirements may change in the new location). It is estimated that the
£0.8 million improvement in cash flow would more than cover these costs.
Clients
While occupancy would be managed in order to minimise disruption to individuals’ rehabilitation
caused by relocation, it is possible that some longer term residential clients would move from
Banstead to Leatherhead. The average length of stay now being about six months, this will be
appropriately managed by publicising the potential move at least a year in advance (see
timetable below). New clients joining after the move would benefit from state of the art
facilities.
Staff
Our staff are our greatest asset and we would want to retain as many people as possible through
the relocation. Some however may not be able to move as it is possible that staffing
requirements may differ in the new location and, if this proves to be the case, full consultation
would be carried out with any staff potentially affected.
Other stakeholders
There are many other people who have an interest in and loyalty to NRS in Banstead including
governors, volunteers, neighbours, supporters and healthcare professionals. Everyone is invited
to submit responses to this consultation so that all views can be taken into account.
Risk
A full risk assessment of the proposal itself to QEF as well as the risk to individual clients will be
conducted.
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The new Care and Rehabilitation centre
It is proposed that the new Care and Rehabilitation Centre at Leatherhead Court will comprise
24 beds (average occupancy at Banstead in the 2014/15 financial year was 15). The new centre
will be on two floors. The first floor will be accessible with two or three lifts. The bedrooms will
be located on the ground floor and will be fully accessible for disabled people with emergency
call bells, wi-fi, ensuite shower rooms with hoists and plenty of room for wheelchairs. Space for
physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, art, music
and leisure as well as kitchens and communal space for dining will be incorporated into the
design. Outside at Leatherhead Court there are extensive playing fields, woodland and access to
Leatherhead by shuttle bus provided by QEF.
Timetable
The timetable for this consultation is as follows.
April 2015
31st May 2015
Consultation paper published
Closing date for responses
Thereafter, the proposed timings are
June 2015
September 2015
October 2015
Submit planning application
Planning approval obtained
Demolition and building work commences at
Leatherhead Court
Banstead Place on the market
CRC ready for occupation
Banstead Place sold with vacant possession
March 2016
January 2017
March 2017
Responding to this consultation
In responding to this consultation, you may wish to consider the important questions below



Do you agree that this move is in the best long term interests of the service? Why?
Is there anything else you think we should consider?
What operational risks should be considered?
Please let us know your views on any aspect of this consultation by email to
[email protected]. The closing date for responses is 31st May 2015. We aim to publish
our responses along with our final plans in June 2015, although please bear in mind that the
timescales are subject to external factors which may be outside our control.
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ANNEX A
Cash flow comparison
NRS stays in Banstead
and bedrooms are
upgraded
Create 20 en suite bedrooms
Planned maintenance over 5 years
Sale of Banstead Place
New build at Leatherhead Court
£2.0m
£0.8m
Net cash outflow
£2.8m
ANNEX B
NRS moves to
Leatherhead Court
£5.0m
£7.0m
Consultation paper addressees
Staff
Clients
Families
Governors
Friends of Banstead
Park Road Residents’ Association
Volunteers
Neighbours
CQC
Ofsted
Surrey County Council
Neighbouring / referring councils
Reigate and Banstead Council
Local Councillors
Local MPs
Referring CCGs
Local CCGs
GPs
Healthcare professionals
QEF (NRS) supporters
QEF Vice-Patrons and Vice-Presidents
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£2.0m