Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital snaps up photos for display
New Cross Hospital's revamped emergency department is going to have an arty new look when it opens next month.
The £38 million department, which is due to open in November, will be decorated with artwork after the hospital held a competition.
Nearly 70 photographers entered the competition entitled Inspired by Nature which asked photographers to send in their nature photos.
The competition produced four winners and five runners-up, all of whom will have their pictures of landscapes and flowers displayed around the state-of-the-art centre.
One of the winners, Lindsey Bucknor OBE, who is born and bred in the Black Country, said: "I was confident in my images hitting the brief but when the number of entries and the significant scrutiny of the judging panel was explained, it made me even prouder of my achievement."
Jacquie Wilkes from Cornwall, another winner in the competition, is having five of her photos displayed at the new A&E department.
She said: "I was amazed to receive confirmation of my win and delighted that my images will be on display in the new department."
More than 300 images were submitted to the hospital for the competition.
Other winners included Alain Rolli and Kate Webb, while the runners-up are Sandy Prince, Mark Lewis, Mike Preston, Diane Taylor and Helen Lloyd.
Ms Willmer, who works as a consultant acute physician for The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust but uses the pseudonym Webb as a photographer, said: "I feel very privileged that my work will be on display in the new department to help enhance the healing environment.
"It is an honour to know that something I enjoy doing in my free time can be shared and put to such a good purpose."
Mr Rolli, the trust's head biomedical scientist, added: "I'm really pleased that my pictures are considered good enough to be on public display and hope patients, staff and visitors will enjoy seeing them."
The trust's arts manager Natalie Lewis said: "We had a fantastic response so thanks to everyone who entered. It was really difficult picking out the winners but we're sure we've chosen some beautiful, calming images that can only benefit everyone who comes into the new department.
"Research has shown that pictures of nature in hospitals have been found to promote a good patient experience by providing a calming and healing environment."
More than 30 images have been printed on panels for display in reception, waiting and treatment areas as well as the relatives rooms, corridors and lift lobbies.
