Kingston Hospital’s paediatric service manages approximately 3,000 acute admissions annually onto Sunshine Ward and the outpatient department sees about 14,500 patients each year.

Its garden area needs enhancing to ensure it is inclusive for all the children it cares for, while being accessible throughout the day and during the evening. Their aim is to provide a private, safe and stimulating environment which not only promotes health and wellbeing but will also offer a calming escape from the hospital environment for long term and returning patients.

The garden is to include a new surface consistent with artificial grass and playground tarmac. It will be designed to provide an interchangeable environment to meet the different needs of the children being cared for, which protects them throughout the seasons.

This outdoor area needs to provide a safe and private space for patients with differing needs including:

• Deliberate self-harm patients so they can feel relaxed and calm in a non-clinical setting, allowing them to focus on a wellbeing space during their crisis points while they are staying in hospital.
• Anorexic patients to access outdoor space while stabilising their acute phase of the condition and for patients with anxiety to be able to calm down from a panic attack.
• Oncology patients receiving cancer treatment to be able to access a private space that is as clean and sterile as possible.
• Children with special needs, which is accessible to them so they can relax and escape the clinic environment.
• Children receiving palliative care to have family time with siblings and other family members.