From Monday to Friday over 200 patients sit in the hospital’s Medical Centre Waiting Room before attending a consultation with one of the hospital’s doctors or nurses.

Previously the room had a bland and sterile feel to it and upon patient’s requests and thanks to Dry July funding this space has now been transformed into a comfortable, homely and functional room.

Kelly Crawford, Nursing Unit Manager at the Medical Centre, said:

“We are very grateful to Dry Julyers and their supporters for funding this makeover. We consulted with our patients throughout the makeover to ensure the changes would be in line with their wishes and a lovely space would be created that would bring comfort to our patients.

“Patient feedback requests were for the room to be ‘more homely and comfortable’ and for an ‘area to be set aside for families, some for family groups of three or more people.’”  

“The walls of the Medical Centre have now been painted in softer tones to create warmth and that homely feel.

“The new chairs needed to be comfortable, as well as serviceable, to enable support and allow all patients to get in and out of them easily. We decided to replace some chairs with lounges and ottomans for variable seating options and the waiting room has been reorganised incorporating some family seating arrangements.

“Patients also requested reading material and access to the internet, so we now have a magazine stand and have subscribed to a variety of magazines to be placed for reading in the waiting room. Wireless access to the internet and two laptops provided on our new trestle tables have also been made available, much to our patient’s delight.

“We were also able to purchase sets of new coffee tables and paintings to brighten up the walls. It has all made such a difference to the look and feel of the room.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone that took the time and effort to participate in Dry July, your kindness has brought much joy and comfort to our patients.”