A Glasgow family has become the first to try out a Sensory Pod at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, designed to ease stress and anxiety for young outpatients.
Lisa Monaghan’s four children – Marcus (14), Mason (13), Poppie (11) and Tomi (3) – were the first to step inside the pod, which is now a permanent feature in the hospital’s outpatient clinics. All four children are autistic, so Lisa knows how challenging hospital visits can be for families with sensory needs.
The Sensory Pod offers a calming space where children can relax under soothing mood lighting, enjoy interactive mirror light features, listen to music, or watch a giant screen. For Lisa, it’s a gamechanger:
“Loud noises can be a big trigger for my kids so the busyness of a hospital atrium can make them scared or uncomfortable. This then creates a barrier to them wanting to attend medical appointments and it can be exhausting, for us and them, to get to where they need to be.
“My oldest son, Marcus, is 14 and he hates busy areas. He is attending the hospital right now in preparation for dental surgery. He won’t wear ear defenders because he doesn’t like the tightness on his head.
“Appointments are usually a two-parent job where me and my husband come along. We bring along different things to distract Marcus, or I wait in the atrium while my husband takes Marcus for a walk outside until the nurse calls for us.
“The new sensory pod gives Marcus a calm environment where he can close off to the outside world and it is perfect for him to chill before appointments. He was loving being in control of the buttons and relaxing while watching the screens without a lot of commotion around him.”
The initiative was championed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff who see first-hand how stressful waiting for appointments can be.
“For some of our patients, waiting can be a scary experience. We hope the Sensory Pod will help children and young people feel safe and happy within the hospital,” said Mhairi Stirrat, Senior Charge Nurse at Outpatients RHC.
“Life is stressful enough for our patients – if we can make things a little easier, we’re doing our job right.”
The Sensory Pod was made possible thanks to funding from MAPP and support from Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
Jonathan McConnell, Director, Building Consultancy at MAPP said:
“We are proud to support the Royal Hospital for Children through MAPP and the MAPP Charitable Foundation, and to play a part in creating a more comforting and inclusive environment for young patients. At MAPP, we work hard to embed support for neurodivergence into every aspect of our culture, because we believe that truly remarkable organisations lead with empathy. Knowing that our partnership can bring even a moment of calm to a child or their family during a stressful day means a great deal to us. The Sensory Pod reflects what matters most to MAPP, which is making a meaningful difference to people’s lives, both within our workplaces and far beyond them.”
Kirsten Watson, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity CEO said: “We’re so incredibly grateful for the funding from MAPP that will allow us to transform the experience of the children and young people visiting the hospital.”
