Staff from University Hospitals Sussex (UHSussex) have got involved with planting trees around the new clinical building at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
There are 20 planters on various levels of the building, where trees, shrubs and plants have been put in to create green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Karen Geoghegan, Chief Financial Officer for UHSussex joined in the planting. She said, “Research shows us that patients, visitors and staff all get an improved sense of well-being from seeing greenery and views of nature. From the start we planned for everyone to benefit from these green spaces, and from our location close to the sea. I’m proud to be helping to make those plans real in this wonderful new building.”
Pamela Heafield, Transformation Discharge Lead Nurse, and Charlie Lee, Nurse Manager for ENT also joined in the planting.
Pamela, who oversees the discharge lounge that will be on level 1 of the new building said, “Being able to get outside and be supported in a nice environment is so important for patients, particularly those who have to spend a long time with us in hospital. We don’t have this sort of facility on any of our current wards, and having these green spaces available for them will be fantastic.”
The ENT service that Charlie manages will also move to level 1 of the new building. She said, “It’s very exciting that we are so near to moving in. The same open and green spaces that are available for patients will also help our staff. There is a better work environment inside the building, and there is currently nothing like these outdoor spaces on the site. It will make such a difference to staff.”
Pamela added, “We do a really hard job sometimes. To be able to get that fresh air and those views, and just take a little time out when you need it, will be invaluable to staff.”
In total the planting scheme for the 3Ts Redevelopment will provide 29 trees and more than 1400 shrubs, perennials and seedlings on the new building and at key points across the County Hospital site. The programme will also be seeding more than 450m2 of specialist matting designed to support wildflowers and grasses on the new building.
The Trust’s Patient First, Planet First green plan lays out how UHSussex aims to provide care in a sustainable way across all its sites. Karen said,” We have a duty of care, to both our patients and the environment in which we all live. It plays such an important part in everybody’s health. Through its climate-controlled environment, improved medical technologies and updated heat and power systems, this building offers the best in healthcare and huge environmental improvements over those it replaces.”
The Trust will take ownership of the new building before the end of the year. Patient services will start moving in within the first three months of 2023.
