Bedside Nature with CW+
HCGA is working in partnership with CW+, the charity for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, to bring a bit of nature to patients and staff. Once a month, our sensory trolley visits the wards filled with seasonal plants, herbs, textured foliage and calming scents, with lavender bags as a particular favourite. Since 1996, flowers have been banned on most NHS wards due to infection prevention and control guidance, meaning patients can have even less access to natural elements. Hospitals can also be busy, noisy and clinical environments, which can heighten feelings of anxiety and disorientation for patients, while contributing to stress and sensory fatigue for staff.
The sensory trolley offers a small opportunity to pause, connect and enjoy something different. We often use lavender, with most of the flowers for the lavender bags coming from Queen’s Park Gardens, where they are maintained and harvested by the Friends of Queen’s Park Gardens. Widely recognised for its calming and relaxing qualities, its gentle, familiar scent can encourage relaxation, support better sleep and help people manage stress and anxiety. For patients, smelling the lavender often sparks comforting memories and can bring an immediate lift in mood. We often hear comments such as, “That’s cheered me up” and “That’s put a smile on my face.” Staff also respond positively, with comments including, “I feel relaxed already” after taking a deep breath, or “I need that today,” before clipping a lavender bag onto their ID lanyard to keep the calming fragrance close throughout their shift. These small sensory experiences provide opportunities for mindful breathing, brief emotional resets, and a reminder to pause amid the demands of clinical care.
