New Staff Wellbeing Space Officially Opens at St John’s Hospital

We were delighted to official open the new dedicated staff wellbeing space at St John’s, designed to provide a calm and restorative environment away from the clinical setting.

The space, which includes both a wellbeing room and a quiet room, was formally opened today with a small celebration featuring tea and scones. While the space has been in use for a while, today marked the completion of final touches and an opportunity to recognise the importance of staff wellbeing.

Working together with our Tonic Arts team, designer Stuart Smith-Gordon engaged with staff on site to create a thoughtfully designed space that feels distinctly different from the clinical environment – restorative, comfortable and inviting.

The rooms feature new, comfortable furniture and have been enhanced by specially commissioned artwork from Edinburgh College of Art’s Tonic Art Graduate Prize winners. Works by Sean Obrzud and Kitty Yarrow have been installed, including a bespoke piece created specifically for the quiet room.

These additions form part of a wider initiative to create calming environments that support staff rest and recovery, recognising the vital role that breaks and quiet reflection play in overall wellbeing.

The project has transformed the space into a tranquil setting that encourages staff to step away from the pressures of their roles and prioritise their health and wellbeing.