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They have helped make my stay so much easier

Posted By Sophieg137

"They have helped make my stay so much easier"

About: Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (Edinburgh) / Dalhousie Ward Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (Edinburgh) / Play Services

(as the patient),

Hi, I have been a patient in Dalhousie since February.

In some of the cubicles the windows do not open.

Dalhousie is a great ward and the staff are so caring and understanding. Abbie, Ellie, Laura, Eren and Kelly have helped make my stay so much easier.

Lorna has been amazing at helping me understand things that the doctors have said that I wasn’t sure about and everyday she puts a smile on my face.

With the heat on the ward I crave fresh air and the Dalhousie outside space isn’t the best. I have therefore walked around the well being walk many many times and it has got me thinking. I believe that the wellbeing walk isn’t very exciting for children and young people and I think the wellbeing walk isn’t very clear on directions and it has me thinking that the wellbeing walk has so much potential.

I feel like the only flowers and picnic benches are at the adult side of the hospital and I’d like to change that and make the place brighter. Here is a list of ideas that would help to brighten it up and encourage lots of others to walk round it. 

1. Better and more colourful signs 

2. Funky mirrors around the walk 

3. Colourful flowers and noise to include items for sensory needs 

4. Interactive treasure hunt 

5. Xylophone 

6. Colourful benches 

7. Animal bins 

8. Drawings or games painted on the wide boring path 

9. Fairy lights 

10. Colourful polka dots to encourage children to keep going and the know the way 

11. Wind chimes 

If you consider any of these ideas I am happy to be involved and chat more. Thank you for reading this and I really hope my ideas can be brought to life. 

Kind regards
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Responses

Response from Margaret McEwan, Play Services Co-Ordinator, Play Services, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People 13 months ago
Margaret McEwan
Play Services Co-Ordinator, Play Services,
Royal Hospital for Children and Young People

Submitted on 24/05/2024 at 12:49
Published on Care Opinion at 12:49

Dear Sophieq137,

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your story. I am sorry that you have had to spend so long in hospital but I am glad that you have found the ward and staff great. Thank you also for your lovely comments about Lorna, I will make sure she and the rest of the staff are able to see what you have said.

I have no idea whether the windows can be opened but I can certainly look into it to see if anything can be done. I can confirm that there are currently plans in place to improve and enhance the outside space at Dalhousie so hopefully that will be a much better and brighter place to be in the coming months.

Regarding the Wellbeing Walk, I am glad that you are able to get out as much as you can and am sorry that the walk doesn't seem very exciting for children and young people and you have provided some fantastic ideas. I will liaise with colleagues to see if we can bring any of your ideas to fruition on the walk as I am sure at least some of them will be feasible.

I would love to chat further about your plans and to see if there is anyway we could work together to see if we could improve the walk. Could you let Lorna know if you are happy for me to contact you to arrange this?

I look forward to chatting further and thank you again for your amazing ideas and taking the time to share them.

Best wishes

Margaret McEwan

Play Services Co-ordinator

RHCYP - Edinburgh

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Claire Sutherland, Senior Charge Nurse, Respiratory Medicine, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, NHS Lothian 12 months ago
Claire Sutherland
Senior Charge Nurse, Respiratory Medicine, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 05/06/2024 at 10:11
Published on Care Opinion at 11:20

Dear Sophieg137

I would like to thank you for taking the time to post your story on Care Opinion. I am sorry to hear you have had a prolonged stay in hospital but hope you are recovering well.

It is fantastic that you think Dalhousie is a great ward and I will ensure the ward staff are aware of the comments you have made, specifically the staff you have mentioned. They will be very grateful for your feedback.

You are correct, there are some cubicles that do not have windows that open. These cubicles have a special ventilation system to ensure appropriate airflow but I can understand being in these rooms for a long time can lead to you to requiring some fresh air. After reading Margaret's response hopefully your ideas can be put into action to make the wellbeing walk a brighter place for everyone (some really excellent ideas).

Once again thank you for your lovely comments and ideas.

Kind Regards

Claire

Senior Charge Nurse, Dalhousie

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
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