New outdoor area opens at Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital

An overgrown pond in the grounds of the Paisley hospital has been completely revamped after work first got underway back in the summer of 2021.

The transformed site was officially opened at a special ceremony, which was attended by politicians, local dignitaries, local and national health officials, staff, and people involved in the pond and other projects.

RAH pond (Image: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

Event attendees at the pond (Image: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

Opening the pond, Professor Tom Steele, director of facilities and estates at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "This project is a fantastic example of collaboration between professionals, the third sector, the local community, and all users of the hospital site. 

"It demonstrates how we can work together to achieve something that meaningfully contributes to both the sustainability agenda and the health and wellbeing agenda.

"It also presents a key part of transforming the outdoor estate at the RAH campus. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved."

The ceremony also celebrated a number of other arts and environmental projects recently completed at the Paisley hospital, including a new Forget-Me-Not mural on the hospital chaplaincy.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde non-executive board member Michelle Wailes, who cut the ribbon to officially open the pond, with Cathy McEwan (Image: Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

The Forget-Me-Not Mural with event attendees (Image: Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

The mural, which is the work of artists Ali Smith and Robert McNamara, highlights the healing power of nature and complements the planting within the HALO gardens, which surround the chaplaincy building.

The HALO gardens are based on a concept conceived by Felicity Steers and Elle Steele during lockdown to provide an outdoor sanctuary for friends and families to meet safely when social distancing measures were in place. 

There are four at the hospital, and they are a popular place, particularly for staff to use on their breaks.

Another project recently completed at the RAH is the Renfrewshire Tapestry, which is currently on display in the hospital dining hall and comprises several printed boards and two suspended stitched panels.

One of the four RAH HALO gardens with the new Forget-Me-Not mural in the background (Image: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

The tapestry is a community project to celebrate the historical county of Renfrewshire in threads and fabric, telling the story of its past, present and future.

Jackie Sands, senior arts and health lead at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "It has long been recognised that health care goes far beyond the therapies that patients receive, and I am pleased that so much work is now being put into the physical environment in which that care is provided.

"The recent developments across the RAH site, and elsewhere in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, made in collaboration with commissioned artists, designers and partnerships, are already attracting positive feedback, and I hope they will be of huge benefit to everybody who receives care, and who works, in all our hospitals."