Queen praises London hospital's new rooftop garden

Queen Camilla has praised a "wonderful" hospital garden that has been created in south London as a sanctuary for patients being treated for serious brain conditions.

Earlier, the Queen opened the rooftop space at St George's Hospital in Tooting, which will provide an outdoor space for tumour patients, stroke sufferers and other people treated for brain injuries.

It was created through a partnership between St George's Hospital Charity and the John King Brain Tumour Foundation.

The Queen, who spent time meeting staff and patients at a neurosurgery unit at the hospital, said: "I can see the difference it makes just stepping outside into the fresh air."

During her visit, the Queen also met Catherine Oppong-Barbo, one of St George's brain surgery nurses who recently left the hospital's intensive care unit after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Oppong-Barbo, 48, who has worked as a neurosurgery nurse at the hospital since 2017, told the Queen: "The balcony is a haven for patients and their families, it's a space to connect while recovering.

"Now I'm using the balcony as a patient, I can put myself in their shoes and truly feel how big of an impact this is going to make."

Laura King, who founded the John King Brain Tumour Foundation in memory of her husband, said she wanted the garden to make a difference.

"We're very happy the patients and their families will benefit from this garden, they will have somewhere to go," she said.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk