A newly refurbished paediatric waiting area at Lymington Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) was officially opened on Tuesday 2nd September.
The dedicated space has been specially designed to support the needs of children and young people, with a focus on being neurodivergent-friendly. The redesign recognises the growing number of children with neurodiverse needs who attend the UTC each year.
In the past 12 months alone, 9,017 children were seen at Lymington UTC, almost a quarter of all patients. Current assessments suggest around 15% of these children have a neurodiverse aspect to their health, underlining the importance of providing a calm, supportive environment tailored to their needs.
The new paediatric waiting area has been carefully designed by Simon Corrall, Clinical Manager at the UTC, to create a calm and engaging environment for children. It features sensory toys, an infinity mirror, new seating and colourful murals on the walls and ceiling, all situated in a quieter part of the UTC to reduce sensory noise. These features have been chosen to provide comfort, distraction and a sense of safety for children, particularly those with neurodiverse needs.
The Lymington UTC team would like to extend their thanks to local company Sign It, who generously donated their time and resources to support the transformation of the paediatric waiting room. Their expertise and creativity played a key role in bringing the space to life, helping to ensure it feels welcoming, vibrant, and child-friendly.
The project has been generously funded by the Lymington Rotary Club and is dedicated to the memory of much-loved colleague Charlotte Bye, a Clinical Manager at Lymington who sadly lost her life to cancer. Charlotte’s family, along with representatives from the Rotary Club joined staff and patients for the official opening.
Ross Brand, CEO of PHL Group, said:
“We are incredibly proud to open this new paediatric waiting area. Creating a welcoming, safe space for all children, particularly those with neurodiverse needs, as this is a vital part of delivering outstanding care to our community. We are grateful to the Rotary Club for their generosity, and it is especially meaningful to dedicate this space to Charlotte, who made such a positive impact on everyone who worked with her.”
Lucie Lewis, Lymington Rotary Club spokesperson said:
“The Rotary Club of Lymington are proud to have donated funding to enable this invaluable UTC facility to exist and hope to continue to support the Hospital in the future. .”
The team at Lymington UTC are proud to be supported by the Friends of Lymington Hospital, whose generosity and commitment help them to enhance the environment and services we provide for patients. Their ongoing support plays a vital role in ensuring that our community continues to benefit from excellent care in a welcoming setting.
