The Queen has opened a balcony garden at St George’s Hospital for critically ill neurology patients and their families.
Queen Camilla joined St George’s Hospital’s neurology doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, charity trustees and some of the hospital’s most critically ill patients before officially opening the Neuro Intensive Care Unit’s balcony garden on 2 June.
The Queen was introduced to Catherine Oppong-Barbo, a patient in the neurosurgery ward who is one of St George’s own brain surgery nurses and is now being treated in the ward where she usually works.
Oppong-Barbo, 48, from south west London, has worked as a neurosurgery nurse at St George’s Hospital since 2017 and suffered a brain haemorrhage two weeks ago.
Oppong-Barbo said: “The balcony is a connection to the outside world after being beside lots of machines in intensive care, it makes it feel like I can breathe freely again.
“Now I’m using the balcony as a patient, I can put myself in their shoes and truly feel how big of an impact this is going to make.”
She told the Queen: “The balcony is a haven for patients and their families, it’s a space to connect while recovering.”
The garden was created through a partnership between the John King Brain Tumour Foundation and St George’s Hospital Charity, transforming a previously unused space into an accessible roof garden directly connected to the intensive care unit.
The space aims to improve patient wellbeing, with research suggesting nature-based rehabilitation may help reduce the impact of brain injury by improving motivation, regulating mood and supporting sensory-motor and cognitive functions.
Sensory-motor functions involve how the body senses and responds to movement, while cognitive functions include thinking, memory and attention.
The Queen was introduced to Daisy Papel, matron of the intensive care unit, who has worked at St George’s for 24 years.
Papel said the purpose-built green space offers patients with complex brain injury, tumours or stroke, and their families, access to fresh air, natural light and the outside world while remaining safely within specialist care.
For many critically ill patients, this was previously out of reach.
Papel said: “The balcony is really important not only for our patients, but their families as well, to be able to see them outside of the ward and support them, which drastically helps to improve patient wellbeing.
“Coming outside from the intensive care unit, you cannot really express the happiness patients experience.
“The garden is an escape for them, and a space for them to enjoy crucial time with their families, the difference is breathtaking.”
St George’s Hospital is one of the UK’s leading teaching hospitals and the third largest provider in London for neurosurgery.
The Neuro Intensive Care Unit is a 14-bed intensive care unit with around 850 admissions each year.
The unit provides diagnosis, treatment and care for conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, muscles and nervous system.
During the visit, the Queen was welcomed by Sir Mark Lowcock, group chair of St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group.
He said St George’s is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for neuroscience, providing neurology, neurosurgery, neurorehabilitation and stroke care.
The Queen joined guests in the balcony garden, including Laura King, founder of the John King Brain Tumour Foundation, who spoke about the importance of the garden after her husband John died in November 2016 following treatment at St George’s.
David Meek, chair of St George’s Hospital Charity, thanked trustees for their support in helping to open the balcony garden, and guests and the Queen for attending.
The Queen unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the balcony garden.
Sir Mark said: “We are honoured and so very thankful to welcome to Her Majesty The Queen to St George’s Hospital, and all our guests who joined us to officially open the neurology intensive care unit’s balcony garden.
“More than 850 patients are treated in the unit every year by our world-class care teams, and now, this beautiful balcony garden offers patients in intensive care with complex brain injury, tumours or stroke, and their families, a space to connect with the outside world during their time in hospital.
“This is all down to the determination of the John King Brain Tumour Foundation and of St George’s Hospital Charity, thank you.”
King said: “This year marks ten years since my husband John died.
“After being diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour in 2015, he was treated by the incredible team at St George’s Hospital.
“Creating these balcony gardens has been a true passion project.
“Ten years on, it feels like a deeply poignant way to honour John’s memory and create something lasting for many other families in the future.”
Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of brain tumour that can grow and spread quickly within the brain.
Meek said: “Patients and families deserve not only outstanding clinical care, but environments that support wellbeing, dignity and recovery during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“At St George’s Hospital Charity our mission is to create the best possible experience for our patients and staff, and the transformation of the Neuro Intensive Care Unit balcony is a powerful example of our impact in action.
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of St George’s Hospital Charity supporters, and of the John King Brain Tumour Foundation, hundreds of patients and families will benefit each year from the respite the balcony offers.
“We are deeply grateful to Her Majesty The Queen for joining us to mark this special occasion, and to everyone whose dedication support helped bring this vision to life.”
