Portrait of Mafi Simmons Sharkey

Mafi Simmonds-Sharkey

“Or when it’s just me, I just come up and wither sit on the grass, or on the benches, usually sunglasses on if I want to be just me and noise-cancelling headphones in so I can listen to some music. Chill out on the grass for a while.”

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Portrait of Margaret McEwan

Margaret McEwan

“I come up to the terrace because it’s a breathing space and I get the sun in my face, I can smell the rosemary. I can look at the plants, look out over the rooftops.”

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Portrait of Nicky Cairns

Nicky Cairns

“It can be nice just sitting in here. And see, I’ve got the computer, so I watch YouTube, listen to music. Have a good laugh with the guy I work with. We’re happy down here.”

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Portrait of Ray Middlemiss

Ray Middlemiss

“It’s just a really nice space to have and – given it’s in the middle of a hospital, it’s pretty peaceful.”

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Portrait of Sam Ogilvie

Sam Ogilvie

“Coming in here you can kind of take a breather, take a step back, and be like: Right, this is what I need to do first.”

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Portrait of Sarah McGinnis and their haven

Sarah McGinnis

“At lunchtime, no matter the weather, I like to get outside, get some fresh air, get a little bit of exercise, and just have a few deep breaths outside.”

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Portrait of Umar Saleem

Umar Saleem

“It can get testing at times and you do need a place to hide. At the same time, where do you hide?You can’t go for a two-hour chat with your friends…so you just walk to the other end of the hospital and back.”

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Helping children deal with sudden and traumatic loss

The Critical Care Unit at the Royal of Infirmary Edinburgh deals with sudden and traumatic deaths which can present unique […]

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Climate Challenge Grants support reduction of single-use plastics across NHS Lothian

Thanks to funding from NHS Lothian Charity through their Climate Challenge Grants programme, NHS Lothian is rolling out the use […]

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The London Symphony Orchestra in the NHS Project from Edinburgh International Festival. Photo – Mihaela Bodlovic

22 August 2023

London Symphony Orchestra Strikes a Chord with Staff a...

World-renowned London Symphony Orchestra has performed a series of ground-breaking concerts at four hospitals across NHS Lothian as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. The uplifting events, organised in collaboration with NHS Lothian Charity, saw patients and staff enjoy some respite and distraction through an afternoon of music.

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