THIS month marks five years since specialist dementia ward the Forget Me Not unit B12 opened at Warrington Hospital.

And to celebrate the special occasion, the hospital’s charity hosted the opening of the fully-completed Forget me Not dementia garden on Thursday with help from incoming mayor Cllr Wendy Johnson on hand.

The garden will bring an ‘at home’ experience for those living with dementia who require acute hospital care.

The £70,000 garden campaign was launched two years ago and its completion has been made possible by donations from the community, fundraising by hospital staff and the support from corporate and third sector supporters.

Kimberley Salmon-Jamieson, chief nurse, said: “To see the garden fully completed is a dream come true for our patients living with dementia and our staff.

“The garden provides a safe haven for patients and their families and carers.

“The area provides a space for families to spend quality time together, reminiscing and just enjoying some home from home time together.

“It is hard to put into words how much this garden means to us and simply saying thank you does not begin to convey the gratitude we feel to our corporate supporters for their time, materials and financial support; to our community for digging deep to donate to the fund and to our staff who have done everything from cycling to Paris to abseiling off buildings to raise the money – it would not have been possible without any of them.”

The garden follows in the design of The Forget Me Not unit, which was designed to lead the way in dementia care and has created a relaxed environment to minimise patient distress which can often be caused by entering a new environment.

Consideration was given to minimising the clinical feel of the unit to help patients navigate and reduce confusion.

These elements combined provide the most supportive environment for psychological wellbeing and create a different healthcare environment.

A post box and a band stand act as memory prompts. and the garden will also allow for music and art-based therapies to support wellbeing and group activities.

Patients have increased opportunities for independent walking, with looped garden pathways and grouped seating areas for interaction with visitors and other patients.

The sheltered grouped seating areas have been chosen rather than individual benches to facilitate conversation and to help patients to stay connected. Throughout the garden there are raised planters large bushes and plenty of colour and wall art.

The original part of the outdoor area has had a makeover and opens up into a seated area, which provides our patients with a familiar place to sit and relax, smells and sounds will enhance and stimulate patients experience as well as help families and staff engage in conversations with patients.