The garden was officially opened on the NHS 75th birthday
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A new rehabilitation garden has opened at the Leicester Royal Infirmary to provide Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients with open space and fresh air during their stay at the hospital. The garden has been designed in a way that allows wheelchairs and even hospital beds to access it.
The garden was officially opened on the NHS's 75th birthday , and was funded by money that was raised by the family and friends of patients who had been treated at the hospital's ICU. Among them was Ellis White, a patient at Leicester’s General Hospital’s Renal Unit when receiving treatment and care following a kidney transplant and was then cared for by the ICU at the LRI when he contracted Covid-19 and died.
His loved ones raised over £43,000 for Leicester Hospitals Charity through bike rides, the London Marathon, and other fundraising activities, which helped fund the garden.
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Another fundraiser was Andrew Corney, who along with his colleagues from PA Housing raised more than £3,000 in memory of his wife Laila, who was also a patient in the ICU as well.
Andrew said: “This garden for me is a place I can remember Laila, who I know would have loved this space if it was available. It’s been emotional to see some of the staff who took care of her. I am pleased that this space is available for others to enjoy in her memory.”
Zoe Bradley, one of the Senior Sisters on the ICU, has been the driving force in making the garden a reality. She worked closely with the therapy team to identify ways to improve the quality of rehabilitation the hospital can offer to patients.
Zoe said: “Gardens like these have proven to have significant mental health and well-being benefits. Rather than it being a place to just sit, I envisioned an area to be used functionally, through raised planters, for patients to be able to actively participate in the use of the space to potentially be involved in making craft in the garden and decorating it for significant events such as religious holidays, national and local celebrations.”
“Thank you to everyone involved for making this happen. I’m overwhelmed to finally see this garden finally here.”
