At King’s College Hospital Charity, we’re dedicated to transforming healthcare for the most critically ill patients. That’s why we’ve committed £2.6 million to create a world-class critical care centre—an investment designed not only to save lives, but to profoundly improve them.
Located at the heart of the hospital and directly connected to the helipad, Emergency Department and operating theatres, the new Centre is a vital hub for critical care services, supporting over 5,000 patients and 15,000 loved ones each year.
Human-centred healing
Waking up in critical care can be disorienting and terrifying. Patients may be unable to move or speak, heavily sedated, and surrounded by unfamiliar sounds and machines. Their first sense to return is often hearing—so the beeps, alarms and hushed voices can feel overwhelming.
To reduce fear and aid recovery, we’ve reimagined what critical care can look and feel like. Each patient room in the new centre is designed to be calming and comforting, rather than clinical and cold. Soft lighting from bedside lamps, calming artwork, and patient-controlled environments—adjustable light, sound, and privacy—help create a more humane healing experience.
Patients can also enjoy their favourite music, films, or TV, making the unfamiliar feel more familiar, and keeping their minds connected to the world beyond the hospital walls.
Healing the mind, not just the body
All rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the trees of Ruskin Park, flooding the space with natural light. The windows can even be opened, allowing patients to feel the breeze and smell the fresh air—small but powerful steps toward re-orienting and recovering.
Smart glass walls surround each bed, offering patients control over their environment. With a touch, they can choose between privacy or visibility, while 360° rotating beds allow them to choose what they see—from park views to loved ones by their side.
Technology that connects and comforts
Every bed is equipped with a touchscreen tablet, enabling patients to stay connected with family and friends, even when they can’t speak. These devices also support medical monitoring and provide entertainment—offering a sense of normality and reducing the boredom and isolation that can accompany long hospital stays.
Looking forward: a world-first healing garden
As part of the next pioneering phase, we’re proud to be funding a world-first £2 million project—the creation of an outdoor Critical Care Centre with a rooftop healing garden.
Specially designed for patients still reliant on drips, ventilators, and power supply, this outdoor space will allow even the most critically ill patients to experience the physical and emotional benefits of fresh air, greenery and sunlight.
Research shows that time spent in nature can reduce delirium, improve recovery outcomes, and lift the spirits of patients and their families alike.
The garden will also allow small numbers of friends and family to visit, offering a tranquil, more natural space to reconnect and spend time together.
Why it matters
This visionary project is about more than medical excellence. It’s about dignity, humanity, and innovation. With your support, we are transforming intensive care into compassionate care—where science, technology, and empathy work together to save lives and rebuild them.
Help us continue to change lives at King’s.
Together, we’re creating the future of critical care.
