New sensory rooms at Urgent Care Centre

Rochdale Urgent Care Centre new sensory room

A second purpose designed sensory/distraction cubicles for patients has opened at the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at Rochdale Infirmary.

The new room is used to treat all children and some adults who have learning disabilities.

It has widely been recognised that when a child is upset through pain or injury, employing distraction techniques can assist in a more settled and comfortable experience, not only for the child but also for their parents.

The first room, which was the brain-child of Sister Jackie Gunn who is a nurse practitioner in the UCC and a trained paediatric nurse, was opened last year and became so popular as a part of the treatment plan of a child that the second one has been created.

Staff nurse Rabia Khanam, along with two colleagues, Shakira Akhtar, who is also a nurse, and Shabnam Akhtar, who is a teacher, decorated the second cubicle with a jungle themed mural, which they painted having donated all the materials and their own time.

Matron Lou Harkness at the Urgent Care Centre said: “The decor is a perfect addition to the lamps, toys and projectors that aim to provide a more relaxed, calm environment for the younger patient group. We would welcome donations of children’s books not just for the younger age group but teenagers too. If anyone has anything they would like to donate then please contact the unit.”