'I forgot what it feels like to be outside' – First rooftop intensive care ward opens

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. 'I forgot what it feels like to be outside' – First rooftop intensive care ward opens15 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleVicki LoaderHealth producerBBCHollie Allan, 29, is in a hospital lift being transferred out of intensive care for the first time in two months. She's heading upwards, towards a new outdoor ward on the roof of the hospital. "Brace yourself for the cold!

" say the nurses crowded into the lift around her bed. As the doors open, sunshine hits Hollie's face. She brightens into a smile, then tears come.

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"I'm sorry, it's so nice. It's so beautiful," she says wiping her eyes. "I forgot what it feels like to be outside.

"Still in her hospital bed, connected to feeding tubes and life support, Hollie is the first patient to try out the new intensive care rooftop ward at King's College Hospital in south London. The first of its kind in the UK, the outdoor ward has enough space for six patients, who can be connected to power and oxygen supplies housed in a waterproof box next to each bed. The canopy design means that some of the most seriously ill patients can be cared for safely outdoors, with all the support they need.

Watch: Hollie wipes away tears as she sees sky for the first time in monthsExposure to fresh air and nature can boost patient wellbeing and reduce time spent in hospital, research suggests. Hospital gardens have been around for some time for that reason - but they are rarely able to meet the needs of critically ill patients. Doctors at King's say there could be huge benefits for these patients who've been in hospital for extended periods.

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They now plan to monitor patients' heart rates, respiratory rates and pain levels, to see if the outdoor rooftop ward helps them recover more quickly. The rooftop ward on the fifth floor of the hospital features canopies and garden areas filled with plants and flowersHollie, who is waiting for a vital heart operation, had been too ill to go outside even before she was admitted to hospital. Her long stay in intensive care has affected her deeply.

"When you're stuck inside all day there's no motivation to try and get back to normal life. You get tired of fighting. "The new rooftop garden has been integrated into the hospital's 60-bed intensive care unit, one of the largest in the country.

Hollie could spend several hours on the outdoor ward at a time, depending on the weather. "Even if it was thunderstorms, I'd be out here. It's lovely," Hollie says.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.