Stroke patients find peace in transformed hospital garden

People recovering from strokes and their families are benefitting from a garden makeover, thanks to kind-hearted members of Dawlish Water Rotary Club.

The prize winners from the club’s popular pub quiz were asked to nominate a local charity to receive their prize.

Winners, The Globe, chose to support the Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity and specifically the Templar ward at Newton Abbot Community Hospital. This ward  supports people who are recovering after suffering strokes.

Rachel Saunders, ward manager, said: “We were delighted to receive this very kind donation which has certainly brightened up our decking area. 

“We used the donation to buy plants and compost and colleagues donated their time to do the planning, planting and organising. 

“Our decking area is a wonderful extension of our ward, allowing patients and their families a peaceful, relaxing space to spend time together.”

Rachel added: “Having these new plants brings a lovely splash of colour to the area and is making a real difference.”

All strokes are different. For some people the effects may be relatively minor and may not last long, while others may be left with more serious long-term problems.

A stroke can affect any part of your body. The impact can be mild or severe. Some people have no physical effects, while others have several.

Around one in three people in the UK have aphasia after a stroke. Their ability to understand speech, speak, read, write and use numbers might be affected. Other communication problems may include dysarthria or apraxia.

Rachel said: “Having a stroke is a life changing event for both patients and their families and anything we can do to improve wellbeing really promotes rehabilitation and recovery.”

She explained: “Spending time around plants has been shown to change brain activity, improve mood and even reduce blood pressure which benefits everyone – patients, families, visitors and staff.

“On behalf of my whole team, our patients and their families, Team Templer would like to say a massive thank-you to the winning pub quiz team, the Globe, and Dawlish Water Rotary Club for their generous donation.”