Community generosity supports Torbay Hospital’s baby loss garden
A special garden at Torbay Hospital, created as a place of remembrance following baby loss, has been thoughtfully enhanced thanks to the commitment, hard work and generosity of two local organisations.
Members of the Rotary Club of Torquay have spent many hours working in the Heartsease Garden, generously volunteering their time and funding new planting to help restore and care for the space. Their work included clearing overgrown brambles, power‑washing stonework and paths and replanting areas of the garden, helping to ensure it remains a welcoming space for parents, families and colleagues.
Roy Tuttle, President of the Rotary Club of Torquay, said: “Our members were very glad to be able to support this project in a practical way. The Heartsease Garden is a very special space and everyone involved wanted to treat it with real care and respect. Clearing, cleaning and replanting the garden felt like a meaningful way of giving something back to families at a very difficult time.”
Alongside this, the Torbay Hospital League of Friends has funded a new water feature, a teak bench and two large planters for the Heartsease Garden, helping to create a calmer and more peaceful environment for quiet reflection and remembrance.
Martin Tucker, Chair of the Torbay Hospital League of Friends, said: “The League of Friends is proud to have been able to fund the water feature for the Heartsease Garden. We know how important this garden is for parents and families following baby loss and our aim was simply to help enhance a space that already offers quiet comfort, reflection and peace.”
Our Chief Nurse, Nicola McMinn, added: “The Heartsease Garden is a deeply important part of how we support families after the loss of a baby. It is a place where loved ones can be remembered and honoured, not just in the immediate aftermath of loss but over time, as people return to reflect and remember in their own way.
“The generosity of the Rotary Club of Torquay, through the time, care and practical effort they have given, alongside the support of the Torbay Hospital League of Friends, has made a genuine difference to this space. On behalf of our midwifery and maternity teams, I want to thank them for their kindness and thoughtfulness.”
League of Friends funding brings comfort and brighter spaces to wards at Torbay Hospital
People on two wards at Torbay Hospital are benefiting from the continued generosity of the Torbay Hospital League of Friends, which has funded new equipment and improvements to ward environments.
On Cheetham Hill ward, which cares for older people, the League has funded new recliner chairs to support people to sit out of bed comfortably and safely.Sitting out of bed, where appropriate, helps people stay active during their hospital stay and supports recovery.
The League has also funded new vinyl wall coverings to refresh the day rooms on Cheetham Hill ward and George Earle ward, the hospital’s stroke ward. The updated spaces create brighter, more welcoming areas where people can spend time away from their bedside, either with visitors or simply for a change of scenery.
Samantha Seymour, Matron for Healthcare of the Older People, said: “The support from Torbay Hospital League of Friends makes a real difference for the people we care for. Helping people to sit out of bed and stay active is an important part of care, particularly for older people and the new chairs support that in a simple and practical way. The refreshed day rooms also create much nicer spaces for people and their families and we’re very grateful to the League for their continued support.”
The Torbay Hospital League of Friends has been supporting people and staff at the hospital for more than 70 years, funding equipment and improvements that go beyond NHS provision. The League was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of its contribution to the local community.
Martin Tucker, Chair of Torbay Hospital League of Friends, said: “We’re pleased to be able to support these improvements on the wards. We exist to help make a positive difference for people cared for at Torbay Hospital and we hope these changes help make people’s time in hospital a little easier and more comfortable.”
Torbay Hospital League of Friends are hosting a coffee morning on Wednesday 20 May 2026, from 11am to 12:30pm, at the Livermead Cliff Hotel, Torquay. Tickets cost £6.50, with all proceeds supporting the League’s work to enhance care and improve facilities at Torbay Hospital.
Tickets are available by emailing info@thlof.co.uk or calling 07747 742009. The League of Friends welcomes local residents, supporters and NHS staff to come along for coffee, conversation and to support Torbay Hospital.