Hospital staff are clubbing together to install a sensory garden for their patients.

The plan, expected to cost £20,000, will see benches and plants flood a small courtyard at the William Harvey Hospital.

Sister Natalie Daly, who works in the critical care unit above the currently derelict square, says the area would be well used.

She said: “We’re trying to make an area where we can take patients.

“If they stay here for too long, they can get disoriented and confused night and day, so we want to take them outside so they can separate the two and relax.”

Sister Maren Thurston came up the idea about six months ago while using a photocopier.

She looked out of the window and noticed the unused, overgrown area, contacted the estate department and asked if they could have permission to use it for their garden project.

Plans have already been drawn up for the scheme by a charitable ex-patient, with another pledging to help with construction.

Among the work needed to be carried out is a widening of the doors, so that beds and ventilators can be taken out to the square.

Fundraising events are already in the pipeline, with a JustGiving page having raised almost £500.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/ekhc/criticalcarewhh