Fund helps bring colour to the A&E
Waiting in A&E can be stressful so creating an environment that could help calm anxieties was of utmost importance Pippa Johnston
Children and families visiting the Emergency Department at St John’s Hospital will now benefit from bright and colourful child-friendly spaces.
Thanks to £50,000 from St John’s Children’s Fund, the designated children and young people’s area within the A&E has been transformed into a welcoming, comfortable and calming environment.
Children and young people using the St John’s Children’s Ward and from the local area were actively involved in the redesign.
When asked what they liked most about West Lothian, they said the green hills, trees, birds and fresh air – all of which have been incorporated into the design.
St John’s Children’s Fund worked with Staunch Industries who carried out the design and installation of the project.
Colourful and playful pieces of artwork and bespoke, hand-crafted pieces of furniture feature throughout the paediatric waiting area, treatment bays and bathrooms, along with toys, games and books for play and distraction.
Dr Rachel Anderson, Clinical Director Emergency Medicine at St John’s Hospital, said: “Thanks to this funding, what was previously quite a clinicallooking area is now a fun, bright and vibrant space which focuses on
wellbeing rather than illness. The enhancements help to put children and families at ease, reduce anxiety and boredom and create a positive healing environment, and have been universally well received by visitors as well as staff.”
St John’s Children’s Fund is held by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) and supports babies, children and young people cared for by St John’s Hospital and community healthcare settings across West Lothian.
To date, ECHC has invested over £225,000 in St John’s Hospital, creating a new outdoor garden space for the Mother and Baby Unit, revamping the playroom on the children’s ward and funding extra equipment and comforts including certificates and gifts to recognise the bravery of their young patients. Pippa Johnston, Director
at ECHC, said: “Waiting in the Emergency Department can be a stressful time for children and families so creating an environment that could help to calm any anxieties was of utmost importance.
“We loved the children and young people’s ideas of bringing the outside in, and Staunch Industries have done a marvellous job of basing the design around the lovely local landscape, with lots of exciting elements for visitors to explore.
“It is thanks to the generous donations of all our incredible supporters that we are able to fund projects such as this one which help to make time spent in hospital a little bit better for children, young people and their families.”
For information or to donate to St John’s Children’s Fund, visit www.echcharity.org/ stjohnschildrensfund