Health & Environment ‘Greening the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Estate’ Elaine Caldow -Lead Public Health Practitioner
Jan 11, 2016
Health & Environment ‘Greening the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Estate’
Elaine Caldow -Lead Public Health Practitioner
Evidence of link between natural environment and health is growing:
Reduction in pain and stressRelieves depressionPromotes relaxationReduces aggressive behaviourPromotes physical activityPromotes social interaction and cohesionIncreased patient satisfactionIncreased staff retention
Benefits of NHS Greenspace
Health and Wellbeing
Views from hospital buildingsOutdoor rehabilitation and recovery programmesExercise referral schemesTherapeutic gardens/ gardeningEmployability and volunteeringActive travel
Supporting Sustainability
Enhancing biodiversityContribution to biomass schemesSustainable drainageActive travel
Web link: http://www.healthscotland.com/topics/settings/nhsgreenspace/index.aspx
The Untapped Potential of NHS Greenspace
•Desktop review (October 2011- January 2012) 86 → 13 → 7 sites
Full assessment
Biggart HospitalArrol Park Resource CentreArran War Memorial HospitalGirvan Community HospitalUniversity Hospital Crosshouse North Ayrshire Community HospitalUniversity Hospital Ayr / Ailsa
Strategic Review of NHS A&A Estate
University Hospital Ayr/ Ailsa Site
Issues Identified
Woodland Management Lack of good walking routes 86% said they did not walk
in any of the woodland paths
59% said they would if improvements were made
Lack of therapeutic garden spaces
Amount of closely mown land
Evergreen Way Pre-Development
Woodland Wynd: Pre-Development
Phase I
Secured funding Surveyed staff, patients and visitorsUpgraded existing footpathDeveloped second footpath Introduced new signage an seatingCarried out individual tree surveyPlanted fruit trees Installed electronic beam countersLaunched the paths!
Evergreen Way Completed
And......
Woodland Wynd completed
Phase I Launch Event
Phase II Funding secured New looped path through mature
woodlands Improving active travel links Woodland management Planting new specimen trees Grassland management/ meadow
creation Graded, varied walks, way finding,
signage Interpretation boards and maps Covered teaching areas Outdoor exercise areas/ bowling green
area Engagement work Volunteering & employability Links with clinical teams/ rehab/
recovery
Feedback
Patient feedback:
“It’s peaceful and therapeutic”“It’s magic” “You feel miles away from
everything”
Staff feedback:
“You don’t feel like you are in a hospital, you could be anywhere”
“I’ve had my one to one meetings on the paths”
“The walks are beautiful and full of wildlife”
Thanks for
Listening