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A doctor at Royal Oldham has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in an effort to raise funds to develop a garden at the hospital for intensive care patients.
Dr Ravishankar Nagaraja, who goes by Dr Ravi, completed the climb of Africa’s highest mountain last month.
The garden will look to provide a space for ICU patients where they can meet with relatives and stay connected with the outside world and nature.
Dr Ravi, who is a consultant intensivist and anaesthetist at Royal Oldham, said: “This was a challenge I really wanted to take on, and I knew would bring more attention and meaning to the charity work which I was undertaking.”
Discussing the climb, which lasted eight days, Dr Ravi said: “The hike was mild to moderately difficult on most days apart from the last day where we had start trekking at 11pm to reach the peak by 6am to avoid excessive crowding at the summit and also to start the downward hike to a safer altitude.
“On the downward hike, we saw at least six people who were supported by the guides due to altitude sickness being administered oxygen and helped to climb down.
“Our water bottles froze due to the cold and we had to drink hot water from the thermos flask.”
So far, Dr Ravi has raised £2,265 for the new garden.
Jess Pollard, who is leading the project, said: “The aim of the project is to provide a glimpse of nature within a very clinical and highly built-up setting.
“It will offer patients the space to sit with their loved ones and be able to chat in private, allowing patient confidentiality and dignity to be maintained.”
The team is currently considering what planting and features will be installed in the garden, with the potential for outdoor lighting and heating to make it accessible all year round.
Funding for this project will be through fundraising and donors via NorthCare Charity, the official charity of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.
Helen Torry, advanced critical care practitioner who helped come up with the idea for the garden, said: “We are really proud of Ravi and his achievements, his commitment to fundraise and highlight this important development for our unit is just an example of how our team are really excited about this resource and how we believe it will make such a positive impact on patients, their relatives and staff.”
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