Cornish Hospital’s Healing Garden Wins National Project of the Year Award

Photo: (l-r) Lisa Niemand and Roberta Fuller at the awards

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Celebrates Prestigious Community Engagement Honour

The Critical Care Healing Garden at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has clinched the esteemed “Community Engagement Project of the Year” award at the Construction News Awards in London.

A Night of Celebration

On Thursday, 11 July 2024, Lisa Niemand, Critical Care Matron at RCHT, and Roberta Fuller, Associate Director for Major Capital Projects, accepted the award on behalf of the hospital. This accolade highlights the significant impact of the Critical Care Healing Garden, a project that has transformed patient care through community effort and innovation.

Photo: RCHT patient, Lizzie, in the Critical Care Healing Garden 

A Community-Driven Triumph

Opened in September 2023, the Healing Garden emerged from a robust community fundraising campaign spearheaded by Cornish explorer Sir Robin-Hanbury Tenison, in collaboration with the RCHT Charity team and the Critical Care team. Entirely funded by charitable donations, the garden offers a serene courtyard that accommodates two hospital beds and critically ill patients in wheelchairs, along with their carers, families, and even pets.

One of the garden’s standout features is its integration of piped medical gases, making it one of the first in the UK to offer this facility. This unique aspect enables even the most critically ill patients to benefit from outdoor experiences as part of their recovery process. On most days, the garden supports up to four patients, contributing to their treatment and rehabilitation.

Collaborative Design and Construction

The garden’s design, crafted by local landscape architect Lavigne Lonsdale, incorporated extensive feedback from both patients and staff. The construction was managed by Cormac Ltd, with Southwest Surfacing also playing a key role. Truro-based Ward Williams provided cost advice free of charge, and numerous local organisations and individuals contributed time and materials. Notable contributions came from artist Kurt Jackson and head gardeners from Heligan, Glendurgan, and The Palace Gardener.

Voices of Appreciation

Lisa Niemand expressed the team’s joy, saying, “Winning this award means a huge amount to our Critical Care team. It recognises the input and collaboration of the whole community – patients, families, RCHT staff, contractors and suppliers, artists, fundraisers, and more! This journey and garden wouldn’t have been achieved without everyone working together and combining clinical need with hospital constraints to deliver our outstanding healing garden.”

Karen Murrish, RCHT Charity’s Fundraising Manager, shared her excitement: “We are thrilled the Critical Care Healing Garden has been recognised by Construction News as the best community engagement project in the UK this year. The RCHT Charity team is very proud to have supported the fundraising campaign and grateful to all of those who have donated and helped to make it possible.”

Roberta Fuller added, “It’s amazing to win this award for our Critical Care Healing Garden. It’s been a true community effort, not only in achieving the fundraising, but also all the local contractors who worked on the project, as well the generous donations made from local businesses. All have played a massive role in delivering this outstanding space for our critically-ill patients.”

Judges’ Praise

The Construction News Awards, known for showcasing excellence in the industry, were particularly impressed by the Healing Garden. Judges noted, “This project really spoke and connected to the community and helped the construction industry to think outside of the box.”

The award marks a significant achievement for RCHT, reflecting the power of community collaboration in enhancing healthcare environments and patient recovery.

Photo: The Critical Care Healing Garden