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First outdoor ICU ward in the UK welcomes patients
King's College Hospital in south London has launched a pioneering rooftop intensive care unit, allowing critically ill patients to receive treatment outdoors for the first time in the UK.
A moment of sunlight after months indoors
Hollie Allan, 29, was transferred from intensive care to the hospital's new outdoor ward this week-the first patient to experience the facility. As the lift doors opened, sunlight struck her face, drawing tears. "I forgot what it feels like to be outside," she said, wiping her eyes. "It's so beautiful."
Hollie, who has spent two months in intensive care awaiting a heart operation, had been too unwell to leave her room before her admission. "When you're stuck inside all day, there's no motivation to try and get back to normal life," she said. "You get tired of fighting."
Designed for the most vulnerable
The rooftop ward, integrated into the hospital's 60-bed ICU, can accommodate six patients at a time. Each bed is equipped with power and oxygen supplies housed in waterproof units, allowing even the most seriously ill to receive care outdoors safely. Partial canopies provide shelter while maintaining exposure to fresh air.
Research suggests that access to nature can improve patient wellbeing and reduce hospital stays. While hospital gardens are not new, they rarely cater to critically ill patients who require constant medical support.
Measuring the impact on recovery
Doctors at King's will monitor patients' heart rates, respiratory rates, and pain levels to assess whether the outdoor environment accelerates recovery. Dr. Phil Hopkins, an intensive care consultant, emphasized the goal of not just saving lives but helping patients "return to their lives as quickly as we can."
The rooftop space will also serve as a retreat for ICU staff during breaks, offering a peaceful contrast to the high-pressure ward environment.
A garden designed for healing
The ward's planting scheme was created by garden designer Sarah Price and the late landscape architect Nigel Dunnett, known for their work on the London 2012 Olympic Park. The space features scented flowers like honeysuckle, jasmine, and lavender, along with textured foliage and grasses that patients can touch and smell from their beds.
"You can see the change not only on their face, but just in the way that they breathe,"
Sarah Price, garden designer
Funding and future ambitions
The £2 million project was funded by the hospital's charity. Clive Kay, the hospital's chief executive, hopes the initiative will reduce patient stays and improve critical care efficiency, with potential for adoption across the NHS.
For Hollie, the outdoor ward has already made a difference. "Even if it was thunderstorms, I'd be out here," she said. "It's lovely."
