A previously plain clinical room at St Mary’s Hospital has been transformed into a colourful and calming retreat for young patients, with children helping to shape the woodland, marine, beach and space-themed murals now covering the space.
The Children’s Emergency Department Calm Room has been revamped thanks to the Isle of Wight NHS Youth Forum and artist Laura Hathaway as part of a project led by Artswork.
The room is designed to give children somewhere to step away from the busy ward environment and feel more at ease.
Young people and patients were involved throughout the project, which was led by Youth Forum Co-Chair Libby Henstridge and medical student Tom Wilkinson.
During an early workshop with Laura, Youth Forum members created worksheets allowing patients in the Children’s Emergency Department and Children’s Ward to suggest ideas through words and drawings.
A total of 29 children responded, with their suggestions helping to inspire the finished murals.
Libby Henstridge, Youth Co-Chair of the Isle of Wight NHS Youth Forum, has said:
“I am so proud to have been involved with the Calm Room murals at St Mary’s Children’s A&E.
“Seeing our amazing Youth Forum’s initial concerns on paper, turn into a meaningful successful project, is something I’ll always be grateful to have been a part of.”
The project follows work carried out by the Youth Forum, Laura and Artswork to transform the Children’s Ward garden in 2024, with the new murals building upon colour theory and creative themes developed during that project.
Sam Matthias, Ward Sister in the Children’s Emergency Department, has said:
“We are so grateful for the time and effort that everyone has put into improving the space we have for our children and families who attend the Children’s Emergency department who are neurodiverse, or have learning difficulties or children and young people who may be in crisis.
“It has been lovely to be part of this work, and I am in awe at the talent of the young people who have been involved.”
The transformation also supports the Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s policy of using art to support wellbeing and aid recovery.
Dr Emma Blake, Consultant Paediatrician and Co-Chair of the Isle of Wight NHS Youth Forum, has said:
“The benefit of having an active and dynamic Isle of Wight NHS Youth Forum has been immense. The young people are creative, forceful and drive through their ideas.
“We have a wide range of young people from various backgrounds with lived experiences of health difficulties, neurodiversity and family situation. This ‘Co-Production’ creates synergy with clinicians, and other professionals which has led to outstanding changes – including public health policy, experience of young inpatients and education.
“The beautiful sensory spaces both in the Children’s Ward garden and now in the Children’s Emergency Department Calm Room, designed by the young people in collaboration with a local outstanding artist, create an environment of relaxation and joy which enhances the therapeutic relationships and enables the healing process.”
Artist Laura Hathaway has added:
“This project has been incredibly rewarding. It’s been amazing to work alongside young people throughout the whole project, from the NHS Youth Forum, who helped shape the ideas from the very beginning, to the children in the Children’s Ward and A&E, whose drawings and ideas became part of the final murals.
“Together, we’ve created imaginative, calming and welcoming spaces that I hope will help children and young people feel a little more relaxed, comforted and distracted while they wait.”
The work forms part of Artswork’s Young Cultural Changemakers programme, which aims to empower children and young people to use creativity to make a difference in their communities.
The programme is funded by Arts Council England.
