The World's First Critical Care Garden
BlueLight Management are proud to be a part of a truly groundbreaking project, the development of the world's first External Critical Care Unit - encompassing a Roof Garden at King's College Hospital.
This innovative project is poised to revolutionise intensive care by integrating nature and advanced medical care in a single, seamless environment.
Dr. Tom Best, Critical Care Clinical Director at King's College Hospital said "It is vital that we care for the mind as well as the body." This philosophy is the driving force behind the Critical Care Garden. By creating an outdoor intensive care ward with full medical function, we are directly addressing some of the most significant challenges in critical care, such as patient delirium and extended hospital stays.
The roof garden project has been funded by Kings College Hospital charity, and is designed to improve patient outcomes by leveraging the therapeutic power of nature. Evidence shows that exposure to natural environments can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood. For patients in critical care, these benefits are particularly impactful, helping to reduce delirium and accelerate recovery. This project goes beyond simply adding a green space; it's about seamlessly integrating an outdoor environment into a fully functional intensive care unit.
The Roof Garden project builds on a strong foundation of partnership with Kings College Hospital. BlueLight Director Malcolm Hankey previously served as the Lead project manager for the new 60-bed critical care unit at King's, which was completed in 2023. That successful collaboration laid the groundwork for this new and inspiring endeavour - the roof garden will sit on top of the CCU building and will be an integral part of the critical care service.
Malcolm said “being asked to deliver this project on behalf of the hospital and the charity is an incredible opportunity. I would also like to thank the incredible design team for their collaboration and innovation through the design phase to get this project on site. It's a testament to how creative thinking can lead to real-world solutions that directly improve people's lives. We look forward to seeing the positive impact the Critical Care Garden will have on patients for years to come.”
The Roof Garden project is partway through construction, with principal contractor Carmelcrest due to complete later in the year.
