A recent campaign advocating for a sensory room at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC) has garnered significant attention following a unanimous cross-party endorsement during an adjournment debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The initiative, driven by concerned parents and caregivers, is supported by a petition that has received over 1,000 signatures, emphasizing the urgent need for the facility near the hospital’s A&E department.
The proposed sensory room aims to enhance the physical, social, emotional, and behavioural wellbeing of young patients while also supporting their parents and carers. Erin McAllister, a mother from Craigavon and one of the campaign’s founders, highlights the importance of this facility. McAllister, whose daughter Aubree has complex needs, expressed her long-standing familiarity with the challenges faced at the RBHSC A&E.
“I have been chronically ill my whole life and have spent many years visiting the RBHSC A&E for assessments and treatment,” she shared. McAllister noted that the RBHSC serves as the primary hospital in Northern Ireland for children requiring specialized paediatric care, drawing many families from across the region during emergencies.
According to the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, approximately 34,000 children and young people visit the A&E department each year. Sensory rooms are specifically designed to provide a range of controlled sensory experiences, helping children with sensory processing difficulties, such as those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or ADHD, to better manage their emotions.
McAllister pointed out the current pressures on the National Health Service (NHS), stating, “A&E departments end up looking like war zones. Children are crowded in and overflow areas have to be opened to accommodate those waiting.” She explained that sensory meltdowns can exacerbate the situation, leading to increased distress for both patients and their families.
Creating a sensory room could lead to less stressed parents and carers, enabling them to communicate their child’s medical needs more effectively. “Our children deserve to feel safe,” McAllister emphasized, underscoring the unique needs of children with high sensory requirements and chronic conditions.
Other hospitals in the region have already established sensory-friendly environments, and McAllister is optimistic that the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust will follow suit. She envisions a quieter space with dim lighting and appropriate toys and equipment tailored to meet the sensory needs of children.
While some mobile sensory units are available for children with hospital beds, they are often not accessible in the waiting room, which can be particularly stressful for families. The campaign has received broad political support, with McAllister stating, “It really brought attention to key issues that can often get overlooked.”
She expressed confidence that the Health Minister has acknowledged their concerns and is prepared to act swiftly to implement a sensory room or similar amenity at or near the RBHSC A&E. The petition advocating for this cause remains open for signatures, allowing community members to lend their voices to the initiative.
For further updates on this campaign, please visit the Belfast Live homepage and consider supporting the petition.
