Mother and baby unit bags £1000 from Tesco’s community grant scheme for garden improvements page thumbnail

The mother and baby unit on Brockington ward at St. George’s hospital in Stafford has been awarded £1000 by Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme to improve its garden. The unit is a specialist facility which provides inpatient mental health services to women experiencing psychological and emotional difficulties related to the latter stages of pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood.

We aim to make the mother and baby unit a welcoming, calm, supportive and homely environment to facilitate recovery from pre and postnatal illness and enable mothers to care for their infant. The unit’s garden is an invaluable asset to assist in the recovery of patients.

Patient Environment Lead, Karen Fidgett, who applied to the scheme said, “I am delighted that my application for funding from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme to enhance the garden of Brockington ward’s mother and baby unit has been successful.

“The money will be used to develop the existing garden to create a therapeutic and sensory space that patients on the mother and baby unit can enjoy, together with their visiting children and families. 

“Work on the garden has already begun with support from the Staffordshire and Cannock League of Hospital Friends, but this additional money will provide help in purchasing play equipment, seating and sensory items that will be utilised with service users during our newly established gardening groups.”

Brockington Ward Manager, Harriet Lambah-Heap said, “We are incredibly lucky on Brockington to have access to such a large and versatile outdoor space. This opportunity will allow us to make improvements that will ultimately make the experience of the families we work with that little bit better. We are absolutely thrilled at the prospect of making these improvements and can’t wait to get started.”