A team from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has developed an innovative sensory suitcase to support people with a learning disability who are admitted to hospital.
The project was one of several ideas pitched as part of an internal Dragon’s Den-style funding bid, aimed at improving support for people admitted to mental health or learning disability units in Sussex.
The successful bid came from representatives of the Selden Centre, an inpatient unit supporting people with learning disabilities. Jodie Ide, an Occupational Therapist, Kirsty Taylor, a Speech and Language Therapist, and Josh, an Expert by Experience from Team Springwell, presented the idea to the panel.
The concept followed work by Team Springwell, a group of experts by experience of learning disability and complex physical and mental health. They identified that some patients at the Selden Centre had high sensory needs, but were not always able to access the static sensory room because of distress, unfamiliar surroundings, or risk-related restrictions.
The suitcase will include tactile objects, weighted products and visual sensory tools. It is designed to be wheeled around the ward and used during family visits, helping provide safe and meaningful engagement.
Jodie Ide said: “Patients at the Selden Centre often have highly complex sensory needs but may not be able to access the sensory room when distressed. Having mobile, tailored resources means sensory support can be delivered where the person feels most comfortable, helping to reduce distress, support regulation, and improve communication.”
Josh also helped shape the idea and presented it to the dragons. He said: “I love the sensory room because it’s so relaxing, but there’s only one room and not everyone can use it.
“I told the ‘dragons’ that rather than people going to the sensory room, the sensory room could be mobile and go to the other rooms. If someone has had a rough day, the sensory suitcase can help to relax them, or it can be used when family are visiting.
The sensory suitcase will help to make someone’s stay in hospital more enjoyable feel better. We want to help people feel better and be able to go home. I was so happy when we got the money.”
Other funded ideas include sensory gardens, sensory rooms and interactive projectors.
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