Dr Teddy Tun Win: “The Critical Care Roof Garden will lift mood for patients and staff alike”

For Dr Teddy Tun Win, intensive care is not just about medical interventions – it’s also about the environment in which patients recover. After nearly a decade in ICUs across the country, he knows the difference that light, fresh air, and nature can make in helping critically ill patients regain strength and orientation.

That’s why he’s particularly excited about the King's Critical Care Roof Garden. “I can see it would definitely lift mood a lot. I’m really pleased King’s will have an outdoor Unit that will help patients – that’s really brilliant,” he says.

A breath of fresh air for patients

Some hospitals have gardens, but few are accessible to intensive care patients. Dr Teddy explains why the King’s Critical Care Roof Garden will be different:

“Even if patients are more stable, visits to gardens can be hard to coordinate, because they usually lack medical facilities” he says. “If the outdoor Unit is part of the ICU, with oxygen and electricity outlets, it removes barriers. You can safely take patients who need medical assistance through ventilation. That accessibility is huge.”

For patients waking up after sedation, being outside will provide a sense of normality and comfort. “If you wake up in a basement with artificial light, versus a place with daylight and greenery, it’s completely different. It transforms quality of life, which can be a huge factor in helping patients feel like themselves again”, Dr Teddy says.

Even simple things – sunlight on the face, fresh air, the rustle of trees – support orientation and motivation. “Patients need to re-establish their day and night rhythms. They need rehabilitation and encouragement. Greenery really helps,” he says.

Supporting families too

The Unit is not just for patients. Families, who often endure hours of waiting and anxiety, will have a space to breathe alongside their loved one. Nothing can entirely take away the fear that critical illness brings with it, but time in our rooftop Unit could help ease pain and worry. “Families feel a sense of relief when they can come into a calm, neutral environment,” Dr Teddy explains. “It helps build rapport and reassures them that their loved one is being cared for.”

A space for staff well-being and learning

Long ICU shifts take their toll on staff, and being outside will offer a much-needed sanctuary. “If you want to provide good ICU care, the most important thing is your staff,” Dr Teddy says. “Having a space where staff can enjoy a change of scenery and get some fresh air while caring for patients helps improve morale – and better-supported staff provide better care.”

Transforming the ICU experience

King’s CCU is already one of the largest in the country, with 60 beds and a huge team. Dr Tun Win believes the Critical Care Roof Garden will make a real difference for future patients.

“Accessibility is key. If you have a dedicated rooftop Unit, you can take them up, safely sit them outside, and give them a sense of normality and calm,” he says. “It will improve the quality of life for patients, and support families and staff. That’s why I admire the Unit.”

For Dr Tun Win, it’s clear: spaces that promote well-being are not a luxury – they are part of excellent intensive care. “I’ve worked in ICUs for years, and having worked in many different places, I can honestly say: the architecture here doesn’t get in the way of the work. It helps. And this Critical Care Roof Garden will help even more.”