'I forgot what it feels like to be outside' First rooftop intensive care ward opens

Hollie Allan, 29, became the first patient to use a new outdoor intensive care rooftop ward at King’s College Hospital in south London. She was transferred from intensive care to the rooftop ward while still connected to feeding tubes and life support. The ward is designed for six patients and includes power and oxygen supplies housed in waterproof boxes beside each bed. A canopy allows seriously ill patients to be cared for outdoors safely with necessary support. Fresh air and nature exposure are linked to improved wellbeing and reduced hospital time. Doctors plan to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, and pain levels to assess whether recovery improves. Hollie had been too ill to go outside even before admission and described the emotional impact of being confined indoors for months.

"Hollie Allan, 29, is in a hospital lift being transferred out of intensive care for the first time in two months. She's heading upwards, towards a new outdoor ward on the roof of the hospital. "Brace yourself for the cold!" say the nurses crowded into the lift around her bed. As the doors open, sunshine hits Hollie's face. She brightens into a smile, then tears come. "I'm sorry, it's so nice. It's so beautiful," she says wiping her eyes. "I forgot what it feels like to be outside.""

"Still in her hospital bed, connected to feeding tubes and life support, Hollie is the first patient to try out the new intensive care rooftop ward at King's College Hospital in south London. The first of its kind in the UK, the outdoor ward 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 be cared for safely outdoors, with all the support they need."

"Exposure to fresh air and nature can boost patient wellbeing and reduce time spent in hospital, research suggests. Hospital gardens have been around for some time for that reason - but they are rarely able to meet the needs of critically ill patients. Doctors at King's say there could be huge benefits for these patients who've been in hospital 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."

"Hollie, who is waiting for a vital heart operation, had been too ill to go outside even before she was admitted to hospital. Her long stay in intensive care has affected her deeply. "When you're stuck inside all day there's no motivation to try and get back to normal life. You get tired of fighting.""

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