The Cardiac Outpatients department treats children who have had heart surgery, or who are preparing for it. Children coming here will have profoundly important conversations and check-ups, and the environment needs to do everything it can to inspire trust and reassurance.
As families enter the department corridors, they are greeted with gigantic, playful mazes to explore, made in collaboration with artist Andy Goodman.
"The echo room looks absolutely incredible.
Really superb. Thank you for all you put into it.
It is exceptional."
Liz O’Sullivan, Arts Manager, GSTT NHS FT
Doors line the corridor, opening to echocardiogram rooms. Each of these features an artwork of an Arctic animal, with fun facts to calm nerves as children cross the threshold. This also gives clinicians an Arctic-themed ice- breaker to start conversations.
Once children have entered the room, doctors dim the lights to semi-darkness to conduct their echocardiogram scan – a scary prospect! We integrated a series of playful wall mazes in fluorescent paint, which provide glowing distraction during assessments, adding another layer of friendliness to the doctor-patient interaction.
This case study is part of the wider “Evelina 1+” project.
The Evelina 1+ project features 7 departments incorporating art, interior design, playful journeys, storytelling and colour.
See Projects for all Evelina 1+ case studies.
The artwork has been supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, which helps create a world-class environment for patients, staff and visitors at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.