Designplan Lighting worked with Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP) on a project for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. The work covered three secure mental health sites: Thameside, Fairfield and Parklands. Each site required specialist secure healthcare lighting for Section 136 suites.
These spaces need lighting that meets strict safety rules. At the same time, they must feel calm and supportive. The solution focused on ligature resistant lighting that delivers safety, strength and good design.
A Section 136 suite is a secure space for short‑term mental health assessment. Patients stay here after detention under the Mental Health Act.
Safety is critical. Every detail must reduce risk, including lighting. This means using anti ligature (ligature resistant) lighting that prevents harm.
However, safety is not the only goal. These spaces must also support dignity and comfort. Lighting helps create a better environment for both patients and staff.
Traditionally, secure mental health environments have prioritised safety at the expense of appearance, often resulting in harsh, institutional interiors. For Pennine Care, the brief was to deliver secure lighting solutions that maintain compliance while creating a calmer and more supportive atmosphere.
This required a lighting approach that could withstand demanding conditions while helping reduce the custodial feel typically associated with Section 136 suites.
FWP specified Designplan Lighting throughout the Section 136 suites at Thameside, Fairfield and Parklands, selecting a coordinated range of the DPW20, RDL AL G2 and DP-E44 fittings.
These products were chosen for their proven suitability in secure NHS mental health facilities, offering:
The consistent specification across all three facilities also supports simplified maintenance and long‑term asset management for the Trust.
FWP pointed to their long‑standing relationship with Designplan Lighting as a key factor in the specification decision:
“We have a long-standing relationship with Designplan and trust the durability of their products in challenging environments. The design quality enables the fittings to last well and be easily maintained by the Trust’s Estates teams. We also appreciate the range of fittings that Designplan offers and their keen eye for aesthetics, allowing solutions to suit all types of environments, including secure healthcare bedrooms.”
Across Thameside, Fairfield and Parklands, Designplan Lighting has helped deliver safe, durable and aesthetically considered Section 136 suites that meet the demanding requirements of secure NHS mental health care.
While safety remains paramount, the lighting specification contributes to environments that feel less custodial and more supportive, helping to reduce anxiety and improve the patient experience wherever possible within a secure setting.
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