A project to completely overhaul the relative rooms at University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse has been launched by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

All of the existing relative rooms within the two main hospitals will be renovated as part of the project and will now be known as Quiet Rooms.

The project has been financially supported by the hospital volunteers on both sites and the Staff Lottery Fund. It was led by Angela O’Neill, associate nurse director and a committed and passionate project team, who were supported by senior nurses, estates services, and health and infection control teams.

Together they have planned a large-scale improvement project to create quiet, non-clinical rooms that will be a safe haven for families, friends and carers who wish to spend precious time with seriously ill loved ones in hospital. The first room to be completed is attached to Ward 2F.

Flooring and ceiling tiles have been replaced, walls have been redecorated along with the installation of air conditioning and dimmer lights in order to give a truly homely feel. Furniture in healthcare friendly fabrics has been put in, including an armchair that pulls out into a single bed.

Angela O’Neill said: “Our existing relative rooms were not meeting the needs of our families at what can be a difficult time for them.

“We really wanted to use this project and the funds we have so kindly received from the hospital volunteers and the Staff Lottery Fund to renovate the Quiet Rooms on a large scale.

“We hope that they will be a private, peaceful place for families and carers to stay if they need to be close to a loved one, and a comfortable, calm place for our health care teams to talk with families.”