Makeover creates calming environment for relatives and staff on Critical Care Unit

The Critical Care Team stand by a wall that reads 'Welcome to Medway Intensive Care Unit' and a mural of birds and flowers

A welcoming entrance for patients and a calming environment for relatives and staff has been created on our Critical Care Unit thanks to a makeover.

Wall graphics featuring birds and willow leaves now line the walls of the freshly painted corridors of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the High Dependency Unit (HDU) to help make the space feel more welcoming. The two relatives’ rooms on ICU have also been painted in a soothing pale blue and blossom wall art installed. In addition, the shower room for those who choose to stay on the unit overnight is also back in use thanks to repairs being carried out and it being freshened up.

Newly refurbished waiting room in Critical Care

The blossom wall art theme continues in the waiting rooms on both ICU and HDU which have also been repainted. Each of the rooms have new chairs and all of the patient and relative information has been updated and placed in leaflet holders.

To make it easier for visitors and patients, as well as new staff, to find their way around the unit, new signage has been put up and to keep the area clutter free posters have been placed in new display cabinets. A large poster showing the critical care journey with information for patients and relatives has also been framed.

Our Organ and Tissue Donation Committee funded the project which was led by the staff on the unit. Some of the painting was carried out by our Estates Team with the wall art installed by Hospital Art Studio. In all the work took approximately one month to complete.

Anita Bowman, Senior Audit Sister for Critical Care who was involved with the project, said: “Thanks to the Organ and Tissue Donation Committee the Critical Care Unit is now a space we are all proud of.

“The drab relatives’ rooms have been completely transformed into a comfortable and relaxing area for them to stay overnight and it’s fantastic that the shower room is back in use again as it means relatives can stay on the unit where their loved one is for as long as they want without having to worry about traveling to and from home to freshen up.

“As a result of the work the unit has a completely different look and feel and we have created a much-improved environment for patients, visitors and staff to feel as comfortable as possible. A huge thank you to everyone who was involved in the transformation.”

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Dr Jaroslaw Beta, who is known to colleagues and service users as Jarek, holds baby Jarek who is named after him. Mum Lauren Davies is pictured next to them.

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