KCHC Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 Spreads - Flipbook - Page 13
Improving patient and visitor experience
This room is a
fantastic area, and my
son is really enjoying
the space, especially
interacting with the play
features on the walls.
We are grateful he does not have to
wait in the noisy waiting room, as
he would be very overwhelmed.”
– Parent of child sensory room user
The newly opened Paediatric Dentistry Sensory Room
at King’s College Dental Institute, Denmark Hill
A comforting space for parents with
sick children
A calming space for children visiting the
dentist
Receiving bad news about your child’s health is the
most horrible thing imaginable to most parents. For
parents with children in hospital for days, weeks, or
enduring months of uncertainty, a private, suitable
space in which news like this can be broken was
desperately needed at King’s.
For children with learning disabilities, autism and
ADHD, visiting the dentist can be highly stressful,
with busy waiting areas leading to overstimulation
and anxiety. Funded by our 2022-23 Crown Fund
programme, the newly opened Paediatric Dentistry
Sensory Room at King’s College Dental Institute,
Denmark Hill, provides a safe de-escalation space
for children to calm down away from the noise of
the waiting room. When the waiting area is busy, the
room also provides a much-needed space for clinically
vulnerable and immunosuppressed children to wait
away from other children and reduce the
risk of unnecessary contact.
Thanks to the generosity of grateful parents whose
children spent time on the ward, the newly refurbished
Quiet Room on the Princess Elizabeth and Lion
Children’s Ward has been transformed from a tiny,
overlooked space into a serene and calming haven for
these families. Here, clinicians and parents can discuss
their child’s care and, for some parents, start to process
the most difficult and heartbreaking news.
Families on the ward selected soft, muted colours to
go with the furnishings and gentle dimmable lighting
was used, creating a calming environment. Families
and staff spoke of the importance of touch and parents
being able to hold each other, so a small sofa was
purchased instead of individual chairs to allow parents
and families to sit together.
This project was made
possible by our Crown
Fund grant scheme.
This room is a testament to
the strength of families and the
compassion of those who care for them.
Thanks to our incredible supporters, we’re giving
families a space to find solace, strength, and comfort
when they need it most.”
– Kevin Farrell, Paediatric Matron
The newly
refurbished Quiet
Room on the Princess
Elizabeth and Lion
Children’s Ward
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