The Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s Pathology service now has a new sensory room that is designed to relax and distract patients who struggle to have their blood taken.
Lots of people, including those with learning disabilities, autism, PTSD, people with dementia, anxiety and people who have a phobia of needles, can really struggle when it comes to having their bloods taken.
The Learning Disabilities Liaison Team and the Pathology Department have therefore worked together and placed a bid to the Trust’s Patient Council, which holds a small budget to help improve, complete or contribute funds to services within the Trust that need help with any equality, disability or accessibility issues.
Steve Reynolds, Learning Disability Hospital Liaison Nurse, has said:
“There is a lot of evidence to support sensory rooms to help people that struggle with having their blood taken. A sensory room is a special room designed to develop a person’s sense, usually through special lighting, music and objects. By providing a sense of calm and comfort, sensory rooms help people learn to self-regulate their needs, which ultimately improves focus.
“The sensory room has been painted to tone down the colour and the equipment is a Rhino voyager sensory trolley which has a colour changing hurricane ball machine and a projector that projects different images onto the walls. It also has a music dock so any music of choice can be played. The trolley also has mirrors which allows it to be angled so patients can only see themselves and not the procedure taking place.”
Gemma Radley, Phlebotomy Supervisor, adds:
“It’s really important that we have something that helps every single person who struggles having their bloods taken. We have only received positive feedback from the patients or their carers that have used it.
Article continues below this advertisement “It’s also made the process easier for us too. Patients come in being nervous, scared, anxious and wanting to get out of the chair, but the room has been brilliant, and it’s made the process a lot better and a lot quicker. Having your bloods taken can be quite traumatic for the patient as well as for their parent or carer so the room and equipment has made it a lot easier for them both”
If anyone is visiting the Pathology Department as a patient, parent or carer and would benefit from using this room, just ask at reception.
There must be better ways to put the money to good use. Typical of the NHS bosses ( or supervisors?? ) to be so up for spending money on equipment that will benefit very few and will no doubt breakdown and sit in a corner and never get fixed.
Don’t be so negative.
Not being negative. It was moved from another Dept. anyway because it was way to big and awkward to use.
Have compassion and love for your fellows. This is kindness in action. When you are in distress, perhaps someone will show you mercy and comfort. I love the NHS when they do things like this.
What a stupid comment, Why shouldn’t we spend the money? Are these kids lives less important than yours?
Maybe they can employ more people then we’ll not need sensory support. It’s like going to purgatory getting a blood test at St Marys. Having worked on NHS projects I bet they have paid well over the odds for this kit. I know companies that double the cost if the NHS is buying it.
And also maybe do more types of blood tests. A friend has to go to Southampton once a month because the tests he needs can’t be done on the island. They used to do them but stop some years ago. Big strain on the old boy.
That’s my point exactly. Things are going to get worse too with all the new developments going on. We don’t need coloured lights and bubbles, just a bigger hospital with more staff ( not managers ) but real staff.