Charity Collaboration Transforms Children and Young People’s Speech and Language Therapy Rooms at East Lothian Community Hospital

Thanks to a generous grant from Edinburgh’s Children’s Hospital Charity with the support of Coldstones Charitable Trust, NHS Lothian Charity has continued its programme of art and therapeutic design to improve patient experience at East Lothian Community Hospital. The latest project has created bright, stimulating Speech and Language Therapy rooms to support children and young people on their communication journey.

Speech and language skills are crucial to a child’s social, emotional, and educational development. According to Speech and Language UK, 1.9 million children in the UK are currently struggling with their communication skills. The original Speech and Language Therapy rooms at East Lothian Community Hospital were functional but the environment wasn’t conducive to staff creating a relaxed atmosphere with the young people attending appointments. The rooms were stark, cold feeling, and clinical. The newly refurbished therapy rooms now offer a welcoming and engaging environment for these children, and their families.

Caroline Anderson, a Speech and Language Therapist at East Lothian Community Hospital, has witnessed firsthand the positive impact of the enhanced rooms. She said:

Families are more relaxed, which creates a better environment for therapy sessions. In fact, one mum commented on ‘what a difference’ the improvements made, and her son chimed in, ‘it’s so much nicer now!’

“The rooms are much better. They are more child friendly, but importantly not ‘OTT’. They are interesting, but not distracting, which would not work for some children, who can be easily distracted.

“The room with the floor mat and orange cushions is great for floor work, which is important for the younger age group. It allows the therapist to get down on the floor and to break into whatever activity the child is doing. Being on the floor, rather than sitting at a table, is childlike in itself and suits the majority of younger children who need to be able to move without restrictions.”

Susan Grant, Tonic Arts Manager at NHS Lothian Charity, said:

The design goes beyond just adding decoration to a space. The enhancements are carefully considered to be child-friendly and meet the specific needs of young patients. The colourful walls, interactive elements, and comfortable floor cushions create a fun and engaging atmosphere that encourages participation and makes therapy sessions more enjoyable, and successful, for the children.”

Pippa Johnston, Deputy CEO at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, said:

“Coming to hospital can often feel stressful and a little bit scary for children and their families, so it’s so important that the spaces they visit feel welcoming and relaxing.

“We know that our environment can have a profound effect on wellbeing and mood, so we are proud to have collaborated with NHS Lothian Charity to help children visiting the Speech and Language Therapy Clinic to forget their worries and engage with their treatment.”

Two Speech and Language Therapy rooms were enhanced at East Lothian Community Hospital for children and young people aged 0 – 18 years. The rooms cater for children across East Lothian, including Haddington, North Berwick, Gifford and Gullane. The enhancements were funded by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity with the support of Coldstones Charitable Trust, and commissioned and managed by Round Table Projects as part of NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts’ wider art and environmental strategy for East Lothian Community Hospital. To learn more about the award-winning strategy, read our East Lothian Community Hospital Enhancements case study.

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