New garden helps patients regain confidence
New garden helps patients regain confidence
On Monday 18 September 2017 a new falls garden was opened at Leamington Spa Hospital by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust’s Chairman, Russell Hardy.
Leamington Spa Hospital is a top-rated facility, providing first-class care to patients undergoing rehabilitation and is home to the Central England Rehabilitation Unit (CERU), a national centre of excellence which offers patient focussed neuro rehabilitation services. The hospital supports patients who have suffered brain injuries and strokes, as well as amputee patients. The new garden will enhance the exceptional care provided. By simulating everyday hazards around the home and garden as well as outdoors, this unique facility will help patients regain their confidence and independence.
The project has been made possible thanks to the generosity of fundraisers, with support and donations from: The Warwick Lions, WPH Trust, Warwick Round Table and the League of Friends of Leamington Spa Hospital.
Each obstacle within the garden is designed to simulate everyday hazards around the home and garden as well as outdoors, while helping to improve balance and mobility and increase confidence when faced with hazardous situations, both on foot and in wheelchairs. It features a slalom course, stepping stone path, uneven surface, bridge, activity board, wire loop challenge and cognitive therapy facilities.
The new falls garden complements the hospital’s existing dedicated rehabilitation programme, offering emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual support to patients.
Russell Hardy, Chairman at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust said “I am delighted that we have been able to develop such a beneficial facility for our patients. It is thanks to fundraising and the support of local organisations that this has been possible, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved. The support they have given to the project will help make a real difference to the lives of patients.”
Lucy Gwynne, Lead Physiotherapist at Leamington Spa Hospital, said: “This unique, specialist rehabilitation course offers lots of benefits to our patients. Tackling different surfaces can be very challenging, so it is really important we can support them in any way we can. Thanks to this new garden, patients will have the skills and confidence they need to return home.”
David Gee, Governor at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and project lead, said “My wife was an in-patient at the hospital after suffering a severe stroke which left her totally paralysed down one side, unable to walk. After undergoing intensive rehabilitation from the dedicated team at the hospital, eventually she could walk well enough to return home”.
“She could manage around the house, but problems started when she wanted to go out. She was unable to negotiate slopes and uneven pavements, as well as avoid obstacles so that she eventually lost all confidence and stopped going out”
“The hospital does a marvellous job enabling many patients to return home, but this project is designed to simulate everyday mobility problems and obstacles, giving patients the confidence to then live as normal a life as possible”.
Notes to editors:
For more information please call Communications on 01926 495 321 ext. 8383
Photo Captions:
(Left-Right) David Gee, Trust Governor and Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman
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