A memorial rose garden has opened at Northwick Park Hospital in memory of staff who lost loved ones during the pandemic.

The heart-shaped design surrounded by rose bushes was the idea of hospital worker Nicky Palmer who was struck by how many colleagues were unable to be with their families or attend funerals due to restrictions.

Nicky, who works in the Bowel Cancer Screening Centre, said: “I just wanted them to know that their work family care and wanted to create a place where people can spend some quiet time when they need to."

“I, like so many of my colleagues, volunteered to work in intensive care during the first wave.

"Things were so busy we didn’t have time to sit down with friends who’d suffered a family bereavement which is sad because the NHS is a second family for many of us.”

Friends and work colleagues donated money towards nine rose bushes while the hospital’s estates team oversaw the creation of a large NHS heart shaped memorial situated in the hospital garden.

The roses’ names are Mum in a Million, My Lovely Dad and Golden Memories, Lovely Lady, Edwards Rose, Blessings, Remembrance, Sentimental and For you with Love.