Staff Contemplation Garden opened at County Hospital to mark Covid-19

Staff at County Hospital have been given an area to escape the daily challenges of clinical life thanks to UHNM Charity funding.

The staff ‘rainbow’ contemplation garden provides staff with a tranquil place of relaxation and reflection.

Tracy Bullock, UHNM Chief Executive said: “Our beautiful contemplation garden gives our hardworking staff with an environment for quiet thought, meditation or prayer, and is another example of how staff wellbeing is at the heart of UHNM. The garden features a unique rainbow sculpture, the symbol of the NHS during the Covid-19, and therefore provides additional meaning for staff who can use the area to remember colleagues and patients lost and reflect on personal experiences during the pandemic.”

The gardens also include a bespoke memory tree, a metal sculpture which will be decorated with ornate leaves engraved with the names of staff who have passed away, acting as a meaningful way to pay tribute to the memory of colleagues.

Steve Rushton, UHNM Charity Manager said: “UHNM Charity saw an overwhelming response to its Covid-19 Staff Wellbeing Appeal, which saw hundreds of local people raise funds for the benefit of our staff. We rely on the generosity and efforts of our supporters to enable us to carry out projects like this, so thank you to everybody involved.”