‘I could either complain or do something positive’

The neuro ward at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has a new lease of life thanks to the wife of one former patient, who was inspired to act by how underfunded it was. Now, Caroline Critchlow is turning her fundraising attention to another neuro centre, with plans to create a therapy garden

Although it was back in 2013 that her husband underwent major brain surgery, Caroline Critchlow remembers it like it was yesterday.

Not just for the understandable trauma, anxiety and distress caused by your husband undergoing a 22-hour operation, the longest ever performed at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – but equally for the state of the hospital neuro ward, which will forever be ingrained in her memory.

“It was in a terrible state. The day room was in dreadful condition, which is the place relatives like me waited, and where patients took a break away from their beds. When you went to the loo, the toilet seat was cracked; the lino was held together with tape; the coffee table was broken; the wallpaper was peeling off,” recalls Caroline.

“I was shocked how underfunded it clearly was. There were families here for hours on end, waiting for their loved ones who are undergoing and recovering from major operations, and this was what there was.

“We came from Orkney, which is a huge journey, and there are families travelling from even further than that, and this was their only place to wait. Often patients on infusion leads had to stand as there was nowhere to sit.

“When my husband Kevin went in for his operation, the staff said I could go shopping, as there was nowhere for me to wait. As if I could go shopping! I found the lack of proper facilities quite shocking.

“But I decided that I could either complain about it, or do something positive. And that’s where it began.”

Inspired to make a difference, and help other patients and their families who found themselves needing to make use of Ward 205, Caroline set about fundraising to make change happen.

And through the creation of Friends of the Neuro Ward, Caroline and her team of volunteers – with the support of “miracle man” Kevin, who happily recovered from his major operation – have been enabled to deliver the improvements which were so badly needed.

With fundraising efforts spanning across Scotland, Caroline and Kevin even opened up their own garden, The Quoy of Houton on Orkney, to raise vital funds.

“I thought by opening up the garden, we’ll be able to buy a sofa for the day room, and go from there. But quickly we’d raised over £1,000 and were receiving fantastic support, and I realised we could perhaps make even bigger change,” she recalls.

And more than £400,000 later, the funds continue to come in and change continues to happen.

The day room – which inspired Caroline’s quest – has now been fully refurbished, a respite and quiet room has been created, and new wet rooms have been created for the close observation unit.

Equipment including motorised shower trolleys, a facial palsy monitor unit, specialist patient transfer scales, hoists and head injury equipment has also been purchased, to ensure the dedicated staff have access to the best equipment.

Caroline’s efforts even extended to playing a leading role in lobbying for a full refurbishment of the ward, securing £4 million.

“I must say I’m really pleased with the day room. It looks like a sitting room, the kind of room you’d have in your own home, it’s so far from what it was,” she says.

“The respite room is so well used, particularly by people who’ve come all the way from Orkney and Shetland. The money we’ve raised has gone a long way, and has made some very positive change.”

And having transformed Ward 205 in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Caroline then turned her attention to the neurorehabilitation ward at nearby Woodend Hospital. The 13-bed standalone unit was similarly in need of modernisation and investment – and similarly, Friends of the Neuro Ward stepped in to make change happen.

“We were able to buy new hoists and other equipment, and we go in at Christmas with presents and at Easter with eggs, and wanted to make it a more positive experience for those who were in there,” says Caroline.

“But I also noticed their garden. It’s a great space which should play a really important role in the neurorehabilitation they offer there, but it’s not fit for purpose. So I want to change it.”

And Caroline – a renowned gardener and regular ‘gardening guru’ on BBC Radio Orkney – made that her next mission. She brought in James Alexander-Sinclair, one of the UK’s foremost garden designers, to create a vision for the space.

“It is absolutely wonderful, with the most fantastic therapy centre with a planetarium ceiling, it will be the most wonderful addition to the ward,” says Caroline.

“It will be colourful and relaxing, and will have intertwining paths wide enough for bed-bound patients and those in wheelchairs to move around. There will also be a dedicated therapist available.”

And with around £50,000 to go before the dream can become reality, Caroline is committed to continuing to drive the fundraising forward.

“It is challenging to raise funds in the current climate, and the scope to hold events is limited, but we will continue to do everything we can. We are holding Paws Across Scotland, a virtual dog walk, and we’re looking for a patron to help us move even further forward, so we’re always busy and we’ll keep on going,” she adds.

* To support the ongoing fundraising efforts, visit www.fotnw.org