On Friday 28 February, the Reuben Young People’s Centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, part of the innovative Best For You programme, formally opened thanks to
a generous gift from the Reuben Foundation.
The new Reuben Young People’s Centre
The Reuben Young People’s Centre provides a best-in-class environment for young people to access holistic care, regardless of the reason they are at Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital.
As part of the work to redevelop the space, purpose designed facilities in both the Emergency Department and on the paediatric ward allow staff to better support young
people with mental health needs.
The ward itself has been redesigned as a calming, therapeutic, clinically compliant area. The CW+ Arts in Health Team coordinated an extensive programme of works in
partnership with the Trust’s Play Team and internationally renowned architects White Arkitekter.
The transformation aimed to make the ward more comfortable, accessible and inclusive for children and young people being cared for in hospital under West London Children’s
Healthcare, which brings together specialist services for children across Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Features of the new ward include:
·
Soft lighting and sensory elements, including colour-changing LED feature lighting in key areas that patients can adjust to suit their
mood
·
Artist-designed lightboxes in treatment areas to help distract and calm younger patients
·
Built-in feature seating, including comfortable, homely (but hospital-safe) furnishings that have been chosen to provide privacy, support
relaxation, and enhance wellbeing
·
Bespoke artwork, including murals and wayfinding, with links to the local area
Sarah Chin, Ward Manager, said: ‘The redeveloped ward is so much warmer and more welcoming – it’s light and bright, with little touches that make it feel less clinical
and more young-person-friendly. The playroom has sensory equipment and a playhouse, and there’s a common room where young people can chill and play video games. Not one inch of the ward has been missed – CW+ has helped to create a better environment for everyone.’
