The charity-funded Room for Improvement scheme is designed to support staff to implement initiatives that benefit staff and patients across the hospital worth up to £5,000.
Thanks to staff innovative ideas the hospital is now benefiting from:
- 30 noise cancelling headphones for children and adults who get over stimulated and anxious when attending their hospital appointments, making hospital visits less stressful for them
- Six reclining chairs for the Trust’s Day Surgery Unit adding comfort for patients and their visitors
- Two motorised pharmacy trollies which will help to improve the efficiency of pharmacy deliveries whilst also reducing the physical burden on staff
The idea of ear-defending headphones was brought about by Executive Assistant, Beth Stone. She submitted the Room for Improvement idea after bringing her four-year-old autistic son to the hospital’s Emergency Department.
She said: “In the rush and panic I forgot to bring his ear-defending headphones which he relies on in busy and sensory overloading environments.
“For autistic and neurodivergent individuals, the intense and often overwhelming sensory input in a hospital setting can be highly distressing. Investing in noise-cancelling headphones can help manage the sensory processing challenge by significantly reducing loud and disruptive noises.”
The Trust’s Charity Manager, Samantha Taylor, said: “These purchases embody the spirit of this charity-funded scheme, supporting both patients and staff in meaningful ways.
Ends. Notes to editors;
If you would like to raise funds for good causes or help an appeal at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, please take a look at our website www.qehklcharity.co.uk. Alternatively, please email our Charity team at Charity@qehkl.nhs.uk or call 01553 613309.
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