The first of its kind outdoor intensive care unit has enough space for six patients, who can be connected to power and oxygen supplies housed in a waterproof box next to each bed. The canopy design means that some of the most seriously ill patients can safely enough be outside in the fresh air. Hollie Allan (pictured below) is the first patient to try out the new intensive care rooftop ward at King’s College Hospital in south London. “I forgot what it feels like to be outside,” she said. Hollie, who is waiting for a vital heart operation, had been too ill to go outside, even before she was admitted to the hospital. Research suggests that exposure to fresh air and nature can boost patient well-being and reduce time spent in the hospital. Doctors say there could be huge benefits for these patients who have been hospitalized for extended periods. They now plan to monitor patients’ heart rates, respiratory rates and pain levels to see if the outdoor rooftop ward helps them recover more quickly. The new rooftop garden has been integrated into the hospital's 60-bed intensive care unit, one of the largest in the country.
