“The Bluebell Rooms and relatives’ rooms are quiet, private spaces where staff can engage in caring and compassionate interactions with patients and their families in the midst of a busy ward,” according to Zara Dagg, End of Life Care Coordinator at Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore, commenting as three newly developed spaces designed to enhance comfort, privacy and dignity for patients and families were recently opened.
Zara added that “when creating these rooms, we followed the Irish Hospice Foundation Design and Dignity Guidelines.”
Acknowledging their role in supporting the project and welcoming the opening of the rooms and spaces, the Friends of the Hospital Committee said they were pleased to be involved and associated through the committing of funds, noting that “the name Bluebell Room was chosen as it symbolises spirituality, healing and everlasting love.”
The three spaces – the Ardan Bluebell Room, Pallas Bluebell Room and ICU Relatives’ Room were all officially opened in April.
The new Bluebell Rooms, located on Ardan and Pallas wards, have been completed alongside a refurbished relatives’ room and adjoining waiting corridor in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Bluebell Rooms provide calm, serene spaces within two busy acute medical wards.
Designed as multifunctional environments, they offer families a private and dignified setting for sensitive conversations with staff, while also providing a peaceful and restful space for family members.
Each room can accommodate up to eight people comfortably and can facilitate overnight stays. Facilities include a kitchenette, sofa bed and seating areas. The Ardan Bluebell Room enables staff to support patients and families in a respectful and sensitive manner during difficult and emotional conversations.
The Bluebell Room on Pallas Ward has also been designed as a dementia‑friendly space, offering patients a comforting environment where they can relax when required. The room incorporates dementia‑friendly resources and design features to support patients who may find hospital admission disorientating.
The relatives’ room and adjoining waiting corridor in ICU provide a dedicated, quiet and safe space for families of patients who are acutely unwell. These spaces allow families to rest during times of uncertainty and facilitate private, compassionate conversations with staff in a dignified environment.
The Friends of the Hospital worked closely with Zara to agree requirements and ensure the rooms could be converted into warm and welcoming spaces, incorporating soft furnishings, tea and coffee facilities and eliminating any clinical feel.
The Pallas Bluebell Room’s dementia‑friendly design was also highlighted by Marian Bracken, Dementia Clinical Nurse Specialist, who noted how “this room provides a calm, supportive environment where individuals can feel safe, relaxed and at ease. It offers a peaceful space for people with dementia to step away from the busy ward, unwind, and will be a valuable asset to both the hospital and those in its care.”
Louisea Burke, General Manager of MRHT, added that “ensuring both the safety and comfort of our patients is a top priority. Family rooms can provide comfort and dignity during times of heightened uncertainty and stress. The dementia‑friendly elements in the Pallas Ward room help reduce barriers to care and create a more positive healthcare experience for those who need additional supports.
The management and staff of MRHT have thanked the Friends of the Hospital for their generosity and all colleagues who worked together to make the rooms safe, comfortable spaces for patients and families.