Hospital Garden Helps Reduce Patient Stay

A green therapy project in Blackpool is helping to reduce the amount of time patients are spending in hospital.

The sensory garden at Clifton Hospital, which includes a polytunnel, was designed and built by Groundwork, in partnership with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. This previously neglected area now provides a haven where patients, their families and hospital staff can learn new skills, engage with nature and each other.

Wellbeing Wednesdays

Regular gardening sessions, alongside ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ have helped people to become more active and mobile and created a sense of community within the ward.

In the last 4 months, patients have spent over 260 volunteer hours in the garden and the average time patients spend on the ward has been reduced by 9 days.

Annie, who is a Nursing Assistant on Ward 2 says;

The project has has really helped patients in their rehabilitation and made a visible difference to their health and wellbeing. Patients are making an effort to get up, get dressed and get out into the garden. There’s a buzz after each session and everyone gets really enthusiastic talking to each other about what they’ve done and how they are going to use these skills when they get home.