Heartbeat: Eye theatre goes under the sea

October 28, 2020

Great care isn’t simply defined by having a team of experts at hand, the environment in which care is delivered has a surprisingly significant impact on patient experience and satisfaction, none more so than when children are involved.

Whilst all of our spaces are clean and tidy, there are always things we can do to make them that much better. Whilst form and function take centre stage, it’s easy to forget that some of the patients using our facilities will be young, scared and in desperate need of some engaging, enlightening and altogether eye-catching surroundings, simply to take their mind off of why they’re at the hospital.

Recently following a paediatric service review at the Birmingham and Midlands Eye Centre (BMEC), one of the recommendations made highlighted the need to make BMEC eye theatres more welcoming for young patients in particular. With this request, the BMEC team sprang into action calling on support from Your Trust Charity.

Jim Morrissey, Acting Theatre Manager alongside his team took on the challenge of transforming the space.

He said: “Though fully functional, many parts of BMEC were looking a little plain and generic and needed a little spruce up. We were keen to bring in elements of distraction therapy to put some of our young patients at ease.

“It’s a difficult and sometimes distressing time for children to come into hospital for an operation, and whilst we would love to put them at ease by explaining how good we are at our job, it probably wouldn’t have much effect. However, we know that distraction therapy is proven to be beneficial, taking their mind off why they’re here and getting them cool, calm and collected, ready for our team to make them better.”

Answering the call for help from Your Trust Charity was Amanda Winwood, Fundraising Manager. She said: “The team at BMEC were fantastic in taking on the challenge of redecorating their space. It didn’t take long for us to develop an underwater theme to immerse our young patients in as they make their journey from the waiting room into theatres. On the way to the theatre, they also have hot air balloons, clouds and planes to take them on their journey.

“All it took to transform the space was a bright idea from the BMEC theatres team, a lick of paint and a few favours called in from our colleagues in the estates team, and in no time at all, the new space was ready!”

She added: “With traces of the NHS blue that we’ve all come to recognise and love, it’s all now part of our underwater landscape that surrounds BMEC theatres, putting a smile on everyone’s faces and boosting their spirits.”

Jim was thankful for everyone’s efforts and said: “On behalf of everyone at BMEC, I would like to say a massive thank you to Your Trust Charity and everyone who has offered a helping hand in bringing our new space to life, redecorating and ultimately enhancing the experience of everyone using our services whether that be patients, their families or colleagues.”