NEW GARDEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR PATIENTS
Royal Stoke spot is respite from noise of critical care unit
CRITICAL care patients at Stokeon-trent’s main hospital have a new garden to recuperate in.
The critical care unit rehabilitation garden at the Royal Stoke University Hospital was designed by former critical care patients and funded by the UHNM Charity.
One of them spent 10 months in a coma after being given just a 10 per cent chance of survival.
The garden was officially opened by Grace Hopkins, aged 30, of Trentham. She spent almost a month in a coma at the Royal Stoke last November.
The critical care unit supports patients who have had serious accidents as well as brain problems, sepsis and organ failure.
Lucy Powell, who has worked there for eight years, said: “The garden has been specifically designed to provide a safe haven for patients.
“We understand the value of giving patients the opportunity to experience respite from the challenging critical care environment. Before, we were taking patients just literally anywhere outside to get them to feel sunshine and fresh air.”
Royal Stoke chief executive Tracy Bullock said the garden provided relief from the constant noise of the critical care unit.
She added: “I’m really pleased we’ve had so many patients who’ve been in critical care involved in the design of the garden.” And the garden is not just for patients. Jo Steele, who has worked on the unit for 18 years, said: “We wanted the garden to be for relatives too. If they’d had a difficult conversation that day, it is somewhere where they can have a bit of quiet reflection. And, especially after covid, the hospital has been a challenging environment.
“Staff are burnt out, so it’s here for the staff too, for a quiet space for reflection.”