A team of paediatric staff at Royal Oldham Hospital have launched a new project to transform a recovery room on the Paediatric Elective Surgery Unit. The team, including Senior Support Worker, Tricia Gilbert, are raising money to fund the project through NorthCare, the official charity of Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust.
The Unit cares for children aged between 3-16 years old, for
procedures on the ears, nose and throat, such as removal of tonsils and adenoids. Patients are usually able to go home on the same day but occasionally have to stay overnight. The team would love to transform one of the existing recovery rooms on the Unit into a sensory room, to create a more calm and pleasant experience for their patients with additional needs (learning disabilities and Autism/ADHD).
“Coming in for surgery is a worrying time for anyone, regardless of age or additional needs, but this worry can be amplified for children with additional needs. They sometimes experience ‘information overload’ in new, unfamiliar surroundings, and ‘sensory overload’ from the noise on the Unit and the physical observations they have from clinicians.
“Some patients that can become distressed, upset, and frustrated by this, and a sensory room would give them a calmer experience in hospital. Parents have also commented when they have been with their children that a sensory room would be an excellent addition to the department and very welcomed by many.”
The team are aiming to raise £5,000 to purchase sensory equipment such as ear defenders, sensory toys, special lighting, water features a sound system.
Tricia is taking on her own challenge as part of the Steps for Sensory campaign, where she’ll be walking 400,000 steps during April to raise funds for the sensory room.
“I’m so passionate about raising as much as possible for this project as I’ve been working in NHS Children’s Services for 12 years, so I understand the impact the new room will have”, she said.
“I’m reaching out to the local community in Oldham to get stepping with us and join in with our campaign throughout April, to help us raise as much as we can to make sure children with additional needs have a comfortable experience on the Unit.”