We love to improve the experience for children who are unfortunate enough to be spending time in the hospital, so we were delighted when The Grand Appeal, the official Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity, asked us to put together a new playroom for Caterpillar Ward.
Anna Shepherd, Deputy Director of The Grand Appeal charity, takes up the story:
“Bristol Children’s Hospital is one of the leading children’s hospitals in the UK: it’s a specialised hospital catering for children from all over the South West and South Wales. We look after complex and specialised cases, caring for children with many additional needs, which vary for each patient.
Caterpillar Ward is the largest ward in the hospital – it’s a general medicine ward, so children and young people with conditions that are not otherwise classified under another speciality will be cared for here. Patients can stay from a few days to over a year, so a playroom is incredibly important and was in need of an update.”
Jen, Caterpillar Ward Play Specialist, told us “Play is essential in helping children and young people cope with being in hospital. It improves their recovery and normalises their experience, so this is an AMAZING improvement to Caterpillar Ward and will be well used by patients and their families.”
Anna explains: “During the pandemic, the space was used for storage. However, refurbishment allowed the room to be purpose-designed as an updated play space so the best use could be made of the room available and meet the needs of the patients it is serving.
The room needed to be child-friendly, age-appropriate, and comfortable. Each ward in the hospital has a theme and Caterpillar Ward has imagery and age-appropriate material related to that theme”.
The Grand Appeal received generous gifts from families, community supporters, corporate partners, and charitable trusts and their contribution has been acknowledged within the design.
We included many elements in the design to ensure that the room was a welcoming area for people of all ages and needs.
Anna continues, “Everything has been refurbished. It now includes a kitchenette and even the doors have been upgraded to enable patients in a bed to access the room.
The space is also furnished with video games and well stocked with board games for older children, who can also listen to music and watch TV, allowing them a sense of normality. There’s even a pull-down projector screen.
The adjustable tables mean children of all ages, as well as patients in wheelchairs, can sit at them and join in.
The wall decor, lights, and blinds have all been designed to create a calming space. The light projector shines stars and galaxies across the walls and ceiling. It’s fantastic for children who have greater sensory needs and makes the room feel cosy.
The integrated kitchenette helps with infection control and cleaning the furniture and equipment within the playroom. In the locked cupboards are all sorts of crafting resources to use as well as sensory play items for children with additional needs.”
We even included a Crable charging point for mobile phones. Colin Horn, our MD, explains: “Having somewhere to charge your mobile phone is vital for families of patients who may find themselves visiting the hospital at short notice or spending a long time at the hospital. Just put your phone on the Crable and it charges wirelessly and really quickly!”
The hospital staff are delighted that our design achieved what it set out to do. Anna said, “The team has done an incredible job and has provided an updated, vital space that children will benefit from.”
Anna added: “This new area gives patients an opportunity to get out of bed to explore with their siblings. There are two play specialists who manage the room and take children away from the ward for sessions in the playroom”.
Jen, one of the Caterpillar Ward Play Specialists added, “The new playroom is welcoming to all ages. We can adapt the room appropriately to the needs of the patient: for sensory sessions, we can close the blinds and use our sensory lights to create a relaxing environment. New technology means teenagers can play on the Xbox. Having height adjustable tables and different sized chairs make the space inclusive to all ages and abilities.”
Anna summed it up: “The finished room has been really well received by patients, families and staff on Caterpillar Ward. The room has many features, including a new door which allows access for patients who are bedbound; new lockable storage units to keep the room tidy which are easy to clean to help with infection control; an updated stock of toys, games and resources to cater for all ages and different abilities; kitchen facilities allow patients and families to help themselves to drinks and snacks and the nature-themed wall decor, lights and blinds create a calming and inviting space.
Patients have commented that the refurbished playroom helps to decrease their feelings of stress and anxiety, helping to make their hospital experience a more positive one.
It also provides a less medicalised space for patients to spend time with their parents and families away from their hospital bed/room. The improved functionality of the room also means play team staff are able to plan and deliver the high-quality play sessions that the patients on the ward deserve”.
The ward and The Grand Appeal are both delighted that the design has achieved their objective so well.
“Grosvenor have done an incredible job in providing a vital space that children can benefit from. We have been working with Grosvenor for over 10 years and they continue to meet our expectations, providing a flexible and professional service at all times. Their team understands the environment and adapts to what can be a moving landscape, working with us to provide the best possible environment for our young patients and their families”.
The team at Grosvenor Interiors are so pleased to have been able to make a real difference to the children and their families who are going through such a difficult time.