A GARDEN to help people with dementia relax while they are in Broomfield Hospital has been officially opened.

The Forget-Me-Not garden, which was designed by Writtle College students, was once an unused area of hospital grounds but has now been transformed into a calm, sensory space.

Funding for the project was provided by the Friends of Broomfield but donations were also made by J.W. Steele, the Broomfield Hospital Charity, Chelmsford Ladies Tangent and individuals.

Chair of Mid Essex Hospitals Professor Sheila Salmon said: "It’s been hugely rewarding to see the fruition of this project grow from an idea put forward by our dementia specialists and made possible thanks to the generosity of a number of donors including the Friends of Broomfield Hospital.

"The work was started in November 2014, with a large volunteer day to clear all the shingle from the garden.

More than 50 volunteers and representatives from Chelmsford 41 Club, Chelmsford Round Table, Chelmsford Tangent, Chelmsford County Tangent, and Essex Boys and Girls Clubs, and Trust staff .

"The ‘Forget-me-Not’ campaign has been embraced by hospital trusts and charities right across the country and has been the symbol in uniting people in the desire to improve the lives and care of people who have a diagnosis of dementia and it therefore felt only right to name our garden after the campaign.”

The Mayor of Chelmsford councillor Paul Hutchinson and the deputy Mayor councillor Philip Wilson officially opened the garden alongside Professor Salmon.

Dementia Specialist Fran Hodby added: “It is well-researched and documented that in acute hospitals such as Broomfield, 25 per cent of people will have a likely dementia or a diagnosis of dementia and this figure is expected to double over the next 30 years.

"This group of patients are likely to experience a longer length of stay in an acute hospital due to a number of factors and this is a significant issue as the symptoms are often exacerbated the longer people stay in hospital.

"Providing a purpose built and designed space such as our ‘Forget-me-not’ garden is one way we can enhance the experience of a hospital stay and turn it from something to be endured into a positive experience – something we are constantly looking to provide.

"The focus has to be on the general wellbeing of our patients and the garden will be another a positive contribution to this.”