Wythenshawe Hospital - Multisensory Room

UPDATE: This project was completed in 2007.

Wythenshawe Hospital's Children’s Unit treats 18,000 children each year and is committed to improving the experience patients have in hospital. It is vital to keep stress to a minimum during hospital visits, to encourage good communication and co-operation during treatment.

This is particularly true when treating children with special needs, who need more hospitalisation than average, and therefore a good experience in hospital can have a lasting impact on health.

The multisensory room would be used to relax children and provide a safe, non-threatening environment for children with special needs and for the use of children and their families that are anxious about being in hospital. The room will be equipped with soft cushioning, bubble tubes, soft lighting, tactile play equipment and audio equipment with gentle music to be played in the room.

The focus is on removing the feeling of being in a clinical environment, and helping the child to keep calm. Facilities such as this help a child to cope with a traumatic experience and to express how they are feeling about their illness.

An unused bathroom has been designated for conversion to the multi-sensory room, and the conversion costs will be £500. In addition £3,000 will be required to purchase the equipment.