You're Amazing (Summer/Autumn 2016) | Page 8

Beautiful & renovations creations 8 Your generous donations have contributed towards the restoration of St Thomas’ historic chapel and an ambitious revamp of the East Wing. Parts of East Wing – which houses two intensive care units and 200 inpatient beds – now have an external glazed façade, which has weatherproofed the building and improved its energy efficiency. Two new lifts have been installed to transfer critically ill patients more easily from the hospital’s A&E department to the redeveloped space. An art installation – Aquatic Flora I & II – was chosen by the public and has been funded by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity. It features two large, nine-storey high vertical botanical forms – artistic alternatives to the fish tanks commonly found in hospital waiting rooms. Artists Hsiao-Chi Tsai and Kimiya Yoshikawa said: ‘We hope the 1870 St Thom a chapel o s’ pens energising colour scheme of the artwork creates a dynamic and cheerful atmosphere, and patients, staff and visitors enjoy the pieces.’ In the chapel, recent restoration work has brought the Grade II listed space and its unique features back to their former splendour. ‘Patients, staff and visitors have used our chapel as a place for quiet reflection and prayer for nearly 150 years,’ says Reverend Mia Hilborn, Head of Spiritual Healthcare at Guy’s and St Thomas’. ‘It’s a privilege for us to be able to share these moments with them in such a beautiful and historic space.’ ‘The chapel enriches the care of so many people at St Thomas’ Hospital,’ says Sir Hugh Taylor, Chairman of Guy’s and St Thomas’. ‘I am thrilled that, thanks to the support of our generous donors, it will continue to do so for years to come.’ 9