Researchers from the School of Psychology at Swansea University have been awarded funding to examine the potential health benefits of creating sustainable eco-friendly hospitals and providing healthcare outdoors.
Professor Jason Davies and Dr Kim Dienes will join forces with Down to Earth – a local award-winning social enterprise and Swansea University spin-out – to examine the impact of the Fit for the Future scheme.
The Swansea team have been awarded £50,000 for the evaluation work, as part of the overall funding of £895,000 provided for the scheme.
Two pioneering health projects for the NHS are being developed by Fit for the Future.
The first is supporting public engagement for a new cancer treatment hospital at Velindre NHS Trust, which will be designed using sustainable construction methods that have a low impact on the environment.
The aim is to improve the well-being of patients, promote biodiversity and showcase low carbon, natural approaches to construction.
The second project is Our Health Meadow – Ein Dôl Iechyd, adjacent to University Hospital Llandough near Penarth. A seven-acre field and another seven acres of surrounding woodland will be transformed into an outdoor healthcare and rehabilitation facility.
Both sites will be co-designed and constructed in collaboration with patients, hospital staff and the local community.
Previous research by the Swansea team has shown that engaging vulnerable and hard to reach groups in sustainable construction methods can increase skills and motivation and have important impacts on social connection and mental health.
Professor Jason Davies of Swansea University said:
“The benefits of spending time in the outdoors are increasingly being recognised. This project provides a unique opportunity to extend our previous research to consider how engaging in building, landscaping and ecological projects could benefit a range of clinical groups, healthcare staff and members of the wider community.
This work epitomises the core ideas within the Future Generations Act and has the potential to form the blueprint for new approaches to developing health, social care and education building and facilities in the future.”
Dr Kim Dienes of Swansea University said:
“Green initiatives are recognized as especially important after the lockdowns of the past year. The Fit for the Future scheme integrates mental health, ecological engagement, and wellbeing for some of those who need it most: NHS staff and patients.
We are very excited to be a part of the scheme and to hopefully use it as a starting point for similar projects throughout Wales.”
Mark McKenna, co-founder and director of Down to Earth, added:
“Now – more than ever – we need to find the best ways to deliver healthcare in a way which is good not only for patients but also for the NHS staff who provide health care.
Green infrastructure and the natural environment underpin a long term, sustainable approach to health care which is good for people and good for the planet. This research by Swansea University will provide critical insights into how this can be most effectively delivered”.
Click here to see the article by Mental Health Wales on Swansea University’s evaluation of the benefits of outdoor healthcare and greener hospitals.
Dyfarnwyd cyllid i ymchwilwyr o’r Ysgol Seicoleg ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe i archwilio buddion iechyd posibl creu ysbytai eco-gyfeillgar cynaliadwy a darparu gofal iechyd yn yr awyr agored.
Bydd yr Athro Jason Davies a Dr Kim Dienes yn ymuno â Down to Earth – menter gymdeithasol arobryn leol a sgil-gwmni Prifysgol Abertawe – i archwilio effaith y cynllun Ffit ar gyfer y Dyfodol.
Dyfarnwyd £ 50,000 i dîm Abertawe am y gwaith gwerthuso, fel rhan o’r cyllid cyffredinol o £ 895,000 a ddarperir ar gyfer y cynllun.
Mae dau brosiect iechyd arloesol ar gyfer y GIG yn cael eu datblygu gan Fit for the Future.
Mae’r cyntaf yn cefnogi ymgysylltiad y cyhoedd ar gyfer ysbyty triniaeth canser newydd yn Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Velindre, a fydd yn cael ei ddylunio gan ddefnyddio dulliau adeiladu cynaliadwy sy’n cael effaith isel ar yr amgylchedd.
Y nod yw gwella lles cleifion, hyrwyddo bioamrywiaeth ac arddangos ymagweddau naturiol carbon isel at adeiladu.
Yr ail brosiect yw Our Health Meadow – Ein Dôl Iechyd, ger Ysbyty Athrofaol Llandough ger Penarth. Bydd cae saith erw a saith erw arall o goetir o’i amgylch yn cael ei drawsnewid yn gyfleuster gofal iechyd ac adfer awyr agored.
Bydd y ddau safle’n cael eu cyd-ddylunio a’u hadeiladu mewn cydweithrediad â chleifion, staff ysbytai a’r gymuned leol.
Mae ymchwil flaenorol gan dîm Abertawe wedi dangos y gall ymgysylltu â grwpiau bregus ac anodd eu cyrraedd mewn dulliau adeiladu cynaliadwy gynyddu sgiliau a chymhelliant a chael effeithiau pwysig ar gysylltiad cymdeithasol ac iechyd meddwl.
Dywedodd yr Athro Jason Davies o Brifysgol Abertawe:
“Mae buddion treulio amser yn yr awyr agored yn cael eu cydnabod fwyfwy. Mae’r prosiect hwn yn rhoi cyfle unigryw i ymestyn ein hymchwil flaenorol i ystyried sut y gallai cymryd rhan mewn prosiectau adeiladu, tirlunio ac ecolegol fod o fudd i ystod o grwpiau clinigol, staff gofal iechyd ac aelodau o’r gymuned ehangach.
Mae’r gwaith hwn yn crynhoi’r syniadau craidd yn Neddf Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol ac mae ganddo’r potensial i ffurfio’r glasbrint ar gyfer dulliau newydd o ddatblygu adeiladau a chyfleusterau iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol ac addysg yn y dyfodol. “
Dywedodd Dr Kim Dienes o Brifysgol Abertawe:
“Cydnabyddir bod mentrau gwyrdd yn arbennig o bwysig ar ôl cau’r flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Mae’r cynllun Ffit ar gyfer y Dyfodol yn integreiddio iechyd meddwl, ymgysylltu ecolegol, a lles rhai o’r rhai sydd ei angen fwyaf: staff y GIG a chleifion.
Rydym yn gyffrous iawn i fod yn rhan o’r cynllun a gobeithio ei ddefnyddio fel man cychwyn ar gyfer prosiectau tebyg ledled Cymru. “
Ychwanegodd Mark McKenna, cyd-sylfaenydd a chyfarwyddwr Down to Earth:
“Nawr – yn fwy nag erioed – mae angen i ni ddod o hyd i’r ffyrdd gorau o ddarparu gofal iechyd mewn ffordd sy’n dda nid yn unig i gleifion ond hefyd i staff y GIG sy’n darparu gofal iechyd.
Mae seilwaith gwyrdd a’r amgylchedd naturiol yn sail i ddull cynaliadwy, tymor hir o ofal iechyd sy’n dda i bobl ac yn dda i’r blaned. Bydd yr ymchwil hon gan Brifysgol Abertawe yn rhoi mewnwelediadau beirniadol i sut y gellir cyflawni hyn yn fwyaf effeithiol ”.
Cliciwch yma i weld yr erthygl gan ‘Mental Health Wales‘ ar werthusiad Prifysgol Abertawe o fuddion gofal iechyd awyr agored ac ysbytai mwy gwyrdd.
Our Health Meadow - Ein Dôl Iechyd 