Families' involvement inspires newly renovated relatives' rooms at South West Acute Hospital intensive care unit

THE Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust), has recently announced the opening of newly renovated rooms for relatives of patients to use in the intensive care unit at South West Acute Hospital.

In total, four areas were re-floored, repainted, and furnished and decorated with fresh artwork to make them more comfortable for relatives spending time in the unit while their loved ones receive treatment and care.

South West Acute Hospital’s ICU Ward Manager, Eimear Watson, said that the idea of renovating the areas came about a few years ago, when discussions were held about how the areas could be made more comfortable for patients’ relatives.

“We spoke with our Estates team on what could be done,” Eimear said.

“They suggested that we speak with patients’ relatives directly and ask for their advice and involvement on what they would like to see done with the rooms, which made complete sense.

“After all, it’s the families and their relatives that use these spaces and they know best what they would like in the rooms and what would make them feel comfortable.”

The renovations saw changes made to four areas in total. The large main relatives’ room was updated and the colour of the flooring was changed to split the room into three separate areas. New colourful sofas and other furniture were added, with fresh artwork on the walls to make the room as relaxing and comfortable as possible.

A glass enclosed waiting area was also updated with colourful vinyl to add more privacy and two further rooms used for family discussions received similar treatment with more comfortable furniture and fresh paint. Eimear said:

“We use one of these rooms for families when they come back for follow-up clinics so it’s now a really nice comfortable space for patients and their relatives to come back into.”

The final renovated area was a private room for families to use that is more private for them after perhaps receiving difficult news regarding their loved one. Eimear said that families had fed back during the renovation process that there was a need for a space in which they could have private conversations.

This private room has been made swipe access only and is given to one family at a time - A place to leave their personal belongings, the room has been updated with new lighting, soft furnishings, tea and coffee facilities, as well as some personal touches such as packs containing toothpaste, deodorant and other personal items that families can make use of while they are there.

Discussing the overall renovations, Eimear said that she was ‘delighted’ that all of the decisions were made by the families’ involvement group

“Everything from the colours, to the kind of furniture, the paintings that were put on the walls – it was all done by the relatives of previous patients of intensive care here and we’re very pleased with the outcome,” she said.