Patients to benefit from ward’s new outdoor space
PATIENTS in Withybush Hospital’s Ward 10 can now benefit from a new outdoor space, designed to enhance their health and well-being while staying in hospital.
The new terrace area has been made possible thanks to Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal, everyone who has generously made charitable donations to the Appeal, and Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Pembrokeshire Cancer Services Fund.
It has been created and designed with well-being in mind. It offers a welcome space particularly for patients to get some fresh air and experience the outdoor environment just a step away from the ward. Ward staff will also benefit from being able to take breaks outside. The new terrace features a modern outdoor seating area and a selection of installed photographic images by Drew Buckley, an award-winning professional landscape and wildlifephotographer based in Pembrokeshire. The nature themed images have been selected by the Ward 10 team to create a calm and tranquil space to enhance the patient experience.
Dr Andrew Burns, Hospital Director at Withybush said: “I’m thrilled to see this facility open to patients and staff. It is a wonderful addition to the ward, which patients and staff will benefit from.
“Thank you to everyone involved in this wonderful project, particularly to Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal, all the incredible fundraising efforts and our Pembrokeshire community for their contribution, support and generosity.”
Lyn Neville, Elly’s father, added: “All of us involved with Elly’s Flag are very pleased that the Ward 10 roof terrace is now open. So happy that Elly’s fundraising has made a real difference to the welfare of patients and staff. The terrace will allow patients on Ward 10, including those who are bed bound, to enjoy some fresh air and outside space, which is so good for a patient’s mental health while in hospital. As the Ward 10 project comes to its conclusion, we would like to thank everyone who supported Elly’s Appeal and campaign for the best cancer services for Pembrokeshire people”.
The outdoor terrace project completes the improvements and refurbishment of Ward 10, which reopened in April 2020 to provide modern facilities and an enhanced environment in which to care for patients. The health board has addressed the immediate health, safety and risk issues posed by numerous defective Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) planks and it is expected to re-open Ward 10 for patients in early April 2024.
The overall ward development scheme, mainly funded by Welsh Government, also benefited from more than £500,000 of charitable donations from the health board’s Pembrokeshire Cancer Services Fund, Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal, together with significant donations also received from the late Luke Harding and his family.
A post on the Ward 10 Flag Facebook page on Thursday (Mar 21) read: “This sign on the new Ward 10 Roof Terrace at Withybush Hospital made me feel very Proud of all that Elly has achieved. I took a photo of the welsh side of the door!! It reads, “Made possible thanks to Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal”. I know it’s just a sign on a door but it means so much too us after 9 years and £230,000 of campaigning and fundraising”