Chill room haven set up for hospital staff
A new “chill room” at Sunderland Royal Hospital is providing staff with a place to briefly step away from the strains and stresses of fighting COVID-19.
Senior nurses had the idea for having a quiet and relaxing area for staff seeking a complete break during their shifts.
Situated in the Emergency
Department (ED) bereavement room, which is closed off to visitors during the pandemic, the room has soft lighting, gentle music and tea and coffee facilities.
Staff nurse and amateur photographer Derrick Johnson provided images for the wall.
The room is available to staff working anywhere in the hospital.
To comply with social distancing guidelines and offer a degree of privacy, it is restricted to three people at a time.
ED sister Lesley Young said: “We do have a staff room where you can grab a cup of tea and take a break.
“But, quite often, the TV is on with 24/7 news.
“Because of the pressures and stresses we are going through at the moment, we wanted a place to go to get away from everything, take a moment and just chill.”
She added: “The chill room, for a maximum of three people, is somewhere quiet and relaxing where you can maybe have a chat and a cuppa.
“Or just switch off totally for a few moments.
“We would encourage all staff in the hospital to use it.”
Family-run Middlesbrough firm The Children’s Room has provided some extra comforts for the nurses, doctors and other key workers using the room in the form of beanbags and footstools.