St James's Hospital opens memorial garden for staff

A dozen or so NHS staff gathered at St James Hospital to open the garden on Thursday, after construction started on the garden late in September this year.

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The project was funded by the Solent NHS Trust, the main public body of community based and mental health services in and around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Chief executive of the Trust, Andrew Strevens, 53, said ‘it’s meant to be a quiet reflective space… to remember staff, friends and colleagues who have passed away.’

He noted staff ‘generally seem excited’ about the space and the opportunity it provided as a mental haven to escape to.

Compassion, endurance, patience and caring were some of the words chosen by staff members to be emblazoned on the path and benches in the garden.

The garden included 12 words chosen by a shortlisting panel from 50 submissions given by staff, to inspire ‘strength’, according to a Solent NHS Trust spokesperson.

Tracey Robbins, 58, who works in business support as part of the transformation team at the hospital, was one of two people at the opening who had their word chosen. Hers was ‘patience’.

‘You need to be patient with things, patient with people and patient with life’, she said.

Ms Robbins said the space was significant to her as she had lost her son during the pandemic period, and this would provide a space to keep a clear head.

Andy Greenhalgh, 41, who works in the Estate Team, had his word ‘caring’ chosen by the shortlisting panel.

He stated that NHS staff are ‘individual people caring for you, doing it because that’s their passion - that’s what motivates them.’

Other words that were chosen by the panel included dedication, team, serenity, together, heroes, unity, courage and strength.

Trust chaplain, Emma D’Aeth, 58, blessed the gardens as a part of the opening, stating ‘there is colour and joy and beauty to be found, even when life is grey and drab.’

She said it is a ‘tangible, physical place for people to come remember. Staff can come and plant things in planters… soon it will flourish and grow.’