Wycombe Stroke Unit garden renovation received recognition from the outgoing Mayor of Wycombe

Outgoing Mayor of Wycombe and High Wycombe Community Board Chair, Cllr Arif Hussain and High Wycombe Community Board Vice-Chair, Cllr Lesley Clarke OBE presenting Stroke Specialist Nurse Eleanor with the recognition plaque. (Image supplied by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust)

The renovation of the Stroke Unit garden at Wycombe Hospital received recognition from the outgoing Mayor of Wycombe.

The outgoing Mayor of Wycombe and High Wycombe Community Board Chair, Cllr Arif Hussain and High Wycombe Community Board Vice-Chair, Cllr Lesley Clarke OBE visited the Stroke Unit garden at Wycombe Hospital in May 2023 to present the team with a plaque in recognition of the work they have done to enhance patient experience.

In 2022, Chiltern Rangers secured a grant of £5,000 from the Buckinghamshire Council Community Board to complete the renovation of the garden. Chiltern Rangers worked with ideas from the staff on the unit to create a therapeutic space to benefit patients. This included new fencing, the creation of raised beds with sensory planting and the painting of a mural by their resident artist, Daniel Wilson (Decreate).

The area has been completely transformed and is used for individual and group therapy sessions. It also provides a much needed space for patients and their families to escape from the ward during what can be a lengthy admission following their stroke. The garden has already been used for pet visits, a wedding, music therapy groups and, during the pandemic, a space for the Stroke Unit Choir to practice when we were unable to sing indoors. The Stroke Unit team also have close links with the on-site nursery and the children have made several visits and worked with the patients on art projects and entertained the patients with songs.

Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said: ‘This is a great example of a team going above and beyond to enhance patient, visitor, and staff experience. The transformation is incredible, and it will have such a positive impact on those who use the space.‘

Kevin, from the Chiltern Rangers, said: ‘Myself and my colleagues at Chiltern Rangers are very proud to have been able to play a part in improving the garden for both patients and staff. Seeing the garden in use this spring was fantastic and makes it so worthwhile. I want to say a huge thank you to our volunteers, who did most of the hard labour and who stuck around in the pouring rain.‘

*Source of information : Press release from Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.