A new sensory-adapted room is helping neurodiverse patients feel calmer and more supported when attending mental health appointments at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), thanks to support from the Trust’s charity.
The room, based at the Chelmsford and Essex Centre, was created after patients shared that busy waiting areas and some clinical environments could feel overwhelming, making it harder to engage with appointments.
Created by Occupational Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner Dean Cox, with support from the EPUT Charity and colleagues from the Community Mental Health team, the room provides a safe, calming environment where people can wait before appointments, meet with clinicians or regulate their emotions afterwards.
Designed with input from people with lived experience, the room includes a choice of seating, including a beanbag, rocking chair and standard chair, alongside adjustable lighting, blackout blinds, calming sounds, aromatherapy, projector lights, fidget toys and scented bean bags. Every feature has been carefully chosen to reduce anxiety and help people feel more comfortable and able to engage in their care.
Dean said: “People told us they found the busy waiting area overwhelming, which could affect how they felt before they even got into their appointment. We wanted to create a space that better meets their needs and gives people the choice to regulate in a way that works for them.
“The feedback has been incredibly positive. We’ve seen patients using the room before appointments to reduce anxiety and afterwards to help them regulate before leaving the building. It’s making a real difference to how people engage with us and ultimately supports them to get the most from their care.”
The room has already received positive feedback from people who have used it.
One person involved in designing the space through lived experience said: “This is great and really feels like somewhere safe I could go to relax.”
Another added: “When I became overwhelmed, being able to look at a calm space allowed me to work on my breathing and just exist in the moment.”
The project was made even more cost-effective thanks to Dean, and Community Psychiatric Nurse and Clinical Lead, Dan Dexter, who both volunteered two days to paint the room themselves, allowing more charitable funding to be spent on specialist sensory equipment.
Dan said: “This has been a real team effort. By decorating the room ourselves, we were able to make the most of the funding available. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how much patients appreciate the space and the difference it can make.”
Stuart Scrivener, EPUT Governor for mid and south Essex who recently visited the space, said: “As a Governor, it was encouraging to see how a relatively small investment, combined with staff creativity and dedication, has created such a valuable resource for neurodiverse patients. This room is a fantastic example of person-centred care and the impact that thoughtful changes can have on people’s wellbeing.
“Every donation, whether it’s a one-off gift or a regular contribution, helps fund projects that make our services more welcoming, inclusive and personalised. Support from our local communities enables us to invest in ideas that go beyond core NHS funding and make a lasting difference to patients, carers and staff.”
The sensory room is one of many projects supported by EPUT Charitable Funds, which funds initiatives that enhance the care and experience of patients, families and colleagues across Essex.
Anyone wishing to support projects like this can donate via the EPUT website. Every donation, no matter how big or small, helps turn ideas into reality and improve care for local communities.