Students from Doncaster College are at the centre of a new project to design a specialised garden space for patients receiving palliative and end‑of‑life care.
The project is being carried out at Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’ Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
Launched in December 2025, the project aims to provide a tranquil, inclusive and sensory‑rich outdoor environment for patients and their families during critical moments of care.
The initiative brings together students from health and construction disciplines with clinical and estates teams from the trust, and construction partners Integrated Health Projects.
Participants were briefed on the needs of patients and families, toured existing hospital gardens including the Rainbow Garden for design inspiration and visited the new site to understand its potential and constraints.
Design work began in early December, with students receiving support through online sessions, site visits and workshops focused on presentation skills and practical considerations such as accessibility and comfort.
Final concepts are due to be presented to a judging panel this week, with the winning design to be integrated into the garden build through IHP’s social value programme.
“[The] construction students have received additional site visits and one-to-one guidance from our team. It’s about giving them insight into the practicalities of construction while working collaboratively with health students to create a space that truly meets patient needs,” said Phil Worsnip, IHP Project Manager.
For the NHS, it represents a step toward enhancing patient environments at sensitive stages of care.
For students, it offers hands‑on experience working with healthcare partners on a real‑world brief that has a tangible impact.
Construction of the garden is planned for completion by summer 2026.
The project builds on wider initiatives from IHP to develop practical skills for students, similar to the NHS Community Skills Centre scheme supporting careers in construction.