Over the past five years, NHS Lanarkshire’s Green Health Partnership (LGHP) has partnered with Clydesdale Community Initiatives Scotland (CCI) to develop a therapeutic gardening and Green Health Programme. As part of this, various green health opportunities are offered for inpatients and outpatients as well as hospital staff and visitors.
CCI runs various volunteering opportunities for those with mental and physical problems at the following NHS sites:
- Airbles Road Centre – Motherwell
- Coathill Hospital – Coatbridge
- King George V Garden – Wishaw
- Kello Hospital – Biggar
- Udston Hospital – Hamilton
All health professionals can find out more about their patient’s suitability for these initiatives by getting in touch with CCI Scotland; contact Ruth McElhinney, Community Development Manager: ruth@cciweb.org.uk or call 01555 664211.
What patients can expect:
CCI will support every patient with training and equipment so every volunteer is comfortable. There are many benefits of green health, and by volunteering with the team they have the opportunity to:
- Discover new skills and interests
- Be part of a friendly, hardworking team
- Improve their health and wellbeing
- Make a positive contribution to the community
- Meet new people and have fun
- Hands on experience in a real work environment
Each patient can stay with CCI for as long as they would like, CCI can also refer patients back to you upon completion of their volunteering.
The Green Health Programme integrates green activities into patient rehabilitation programmes and dementia groups, as well as growing fresh vegetables on hospital sites where all produce grown is used within NHS Lanarkshire or donated to Clydesdale Foodbanks.
Marie McKeown, Partnership Manager – Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership, NHS Lanarkshire said: “Our ongoing partnership with CCI Scotland supports patients, hospital visitors and our staff to experience a positive boost to their physical, emotional and mental health, as well as new and improved hospital grounds. We’re thrilled to be able to offer such a rewarding initiative.”
Ruth McElhinney, Community Development Manager, CCI Scotland, added: “Our partnership with NHS Lanarkshire has resulted in participants learning new skills, gaining more confidence and experiencing feelings of contributing to the community.
“We have had over 100 patients actively engage in our sessions, many long term inpatients where this opportunity has made a significant impact on their social, mental and physical wellbeing. We have also donated over 1000kg of vegetables to the Clydesdale Foodbank, all of which is grown on NHS Lanarkshire grounds.”
To discuss your patient’s suitability for these sessions, please email ruth@cciweb.org.uk or call 01555 664211.
