New sensory room now open at Causeway Hospital Emergency Department

A new sensory room is now open within Causeway Hospital’s Emergency Department, helping to transform the care of patients with additional needs.

Featuring soothing lighting, calming projections and a range of visual and tactile elements, the bespoke space offers a welcome alternative away from the noise and activity of the main area.

The initial idea for the project came from ED Consultant Fiona O’Neill after the birth of her daughter Gracie, who has Down syndrome and required open-heart surgery at just three-months-old.

Fiona said: “I returned to work following a complicated maternity leave with a new passion – an Emergency Department which was more considerate and inclusive of those more vulnerable in our society.

“I wanted to create a safe space for those who struggled with things like noise, crowding in waiting areas and bright lights. Having not long become a mother of a child with additional needs I knew now was the time to drive this vision forward.

“My experience of bringing a sick child to an ED was not always pleasant, and this inspired me to think differently and improve the care that could be provided for other vulnerable patients like Gracie.”

Supported by the team within the Emergency Department, the Trust’s Learning Disability service, colleagues from the wider Health and Social Care family and service users, a vision for the sensory room was developed and it’s now making a difference for those most in need.

Caroline Quinn, Acute Liaison Nurse for Learning Disability, said: “The creation of this space reflects our ongoing commitment to making acute hospital settings more inclusive, accessible, and supportive.

“It is more than just the addition of physical space - it signals our commitments towards greater empathy, accessibility and respect for individual needs within our emergency care services.

“We know that going to ED can be a daunting experience, both for patients and their loved ones, but with the room’s calming lighting, tactile resources and a focus on reducing sensory overload, we hope we can make a positive difference.”

Emergency Department Sister, Lisa Barclay, added: “We had a collective goal to create a space which would help us to provide enhanced patient care, created with the needs of our patients and families in mind. The completion of the sensory room is a huge achievement for everyone involved and a real success story for Causeway Hospital. On behalf of the entire ED team I want to thank everyone who helped to bring our vision to reality.”