Diane Graham experiences first-hand how patients and their families are being supported at Wishaw General Hospital.
“It was where I was made to feel totally welcomed and like a ‘normal healthy person’. It was a completely tranquil contrast to the nature of the ward”
Katherine Reilly, patient at Wishaw General Hospital
On ‘What matters to you?’ day on 6 June 2018, Wishaw General Hospital saw the grand opening of a new patient and staff reflection garden that is accessed through the Sanctuary near the main entrance of the hospital. The idea for this garden emerged from feedback received in 2017’s ‘What matters to you?’ day, and it was developed to provide patients, visitors and staff a comfortable and reflective space to get away from the rigors of hospital life at the times its needed. Katherine Reilly, a current patient who was attending the opening commented: “This is a lovely place to come. Sometimes you need somewhere you can get away from the ward and to think. This is a place I love.”
Since the idea was raised a wide range of staff and volunteers from the hospital and the wider community have come together to get involved in bringing this garden space to life. This work has been led by the hospital chaplain Harry McKenna and the Chief of Nursing Services, Gillian McCauley, whose mother, Marilyn Reid, sadly died and was being remembered along with many others during a thoughtful and poignant garden opening and remembrance ceremony.
Gillian McCauley talks about this by saying: “The team at Wishaw have worked brilliantly together, supported by our local community and businesses to create an outside space that is peaceful, where patients, families and staff can take time to reflect and remember. In the end it’s all the small things that matter.”
A tree sculpture had been commissioned by the Reid family and created by inmates at local Shotts Prison. Those in attendance were asked to remember loved ones by writing their name or a message onto leaves which were placed on the tree as a sign of remembrance. This was followed by a release of biodegradable balloons as a mark of remembrance. Being in hospital is never an easy experience, so listening to families and staff at Wishaw General Hospital about what mattered to them and following this up with acting on it has really involved the local community and delivered a wonderful space that people can benefit from for many years.