Whipsnade Zoo and St John Ambulance, patients have recently been able to experience therapeutic 

visits to the zoo as part of their recovery journey. The initiative aims to support mental 

wellbeing, encourage physical engagement, and offer a refreshing change from the hospital 

environment.

Andy, who has been in ICU for ten months and before his accident was a keen walker, was the first 

patient to visit the zoo and described his experience: “I thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt safe with the 

staff there and it was good for my mental wellbeing. The facilities at Whipsnade are fantastic, 

especially the changing places, which can be used by anyone. It’s a real leap forward to have 

facilities that support families with children with additional needs. They’ve really thought about 

everything. I hope these visits will be the start of something wonderful for other patients too. 

Yes, you have to be clinically stable, but you’re not going without the best nursing care. I’d 

encourage people to say yes to opportunities, have the experience, and enjoy it. When you’re in 

hospital for a long time, it can get very samey. But you can have a great day and still be very 

well taken care of.”

Mark and his family also visited the zoo as part of the initiative. Mark has been in ICU for eight 

months. Following the visit his daughter said: “To have a normal family outing and reconnect with 

Dad away from the hospital was something we didn’t realise we needed, but now we know just how much 

we did. Our ‘normal’ had become hospital corridors and clinical routines, and Dad had become ‘the 

patient’. But on the day we visited he was simply Dad and Grandad to his grandchildren. In ICU you 

care for the whole family, not just the patient and over the last eight months, your team has gone 

above and beyond in doing exactly that.”

Sarah Shipley, Matron for ICU at the Trust said: “We’ve seen the incredible impact these 

rehabilitation trips had on our ICU patients and their families. Being able to spend time outside 

the hospital, reconnect with nature, and share meaningful moments together supports not only 

physical recovery but emotional healing too. For families, it’s a chance to see their loved ones as 

themselves again, not just as patients. And for our teams, it’s a powerful reminder of why we do 

what we do. Recovery from critical care isn't just about survival, it's about living. These 

experiences reinforce the importance of compassionate, person-centred care that reaches beyond the 

ICU.”

Patrick Conlon, ZSL's Head of Health and Wellbeing Programmes, said: "I’m proud we’ve been able to 

welcome a small number of long-term patients from Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust’s ICU and 

their families to Whipsnade Zoo. Even in these early visits, we’ve seen how time spent in nature 

can support recovery and reconnection. Being surrounded by wildlife and open space offers moments 

of calm, joy and togetherness that can mean so much during recovery. We’re honoured to be working 

with the Trust to explore how experiences with nature can play a meaningful role in wellbeing and 

healing."

The initiative is also supported by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Charitable Fund, St John Ambulance and the Trust Clinical 

Simulation Team.