Youngsters asked to vote on theme for new children's X-ray room
Young visitors to the X-ray department at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are being asked to help decide on a design theme for a new children’s X-ray room.
Having an x-ray can be quite a scary experience for young patients so the Medical Imaging staff are keen to create a clinical area that is more welcoming and friendly.
Children visiting the X-ray department can now vote for a theme – underwater, jungle or space – by placing a token in the corresponding voting box in the waiting room.
The team are hoping to raise funds to refurbish an existing X-ray room with a large wall mural and a ceiling projector that will convey the chosen theme.
Fundraising for the department’s appeal ‘Big Raise for Little Rays’ is already well underway, and staff have been busy holding cake sales, hamper raffles and a name the Easter bunny competition.
Radiographer Charlotte Wood and Paediatric Lead Radiographer Katie Swann have led the campaign. They said: “A lot of children don’t know what an x-ray machine is and it can be quite traumatising for them, especially if they have come straight through from the Emergency Department.”
“We want to create a room where kids can feel safe and reassured with lots of interesting features to help take their minds off having an X-ray. We’ve had lots of advice and support from the Playleaders on children’s ward Bramble to help us with our fundraising campaign, and we’d also like to thank the RD&E Graphics Department for all their help.”
If you would like to support the Big Raise for Little Rays campaign donations can be made by visiting the General Office in the Hospital main entrance, or by sending a cheque to Charitable Funds and quoting reference FR283.
The Medical Imaging department have recently become one of just 16 NHS Trusts across the country to have received a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) Imaging Service Accreditation (ISAS) for providing high quality radiology services to patients. One of the recommendations from UKAS to further improve their service and facilities was that they should create a more child friendly X-ray room and waiting areas.
