Safari creatures help children relax
An African savannah awaits young patients at West Suffolk Hospital, thanks to a colourful new mural created by two local artists. Imaging assistant, Lucy Arnold and her sister, Alayna Guest, created the extensive mural, complete with lions, hippos, monkeys, frogs, giraffe and zebra, to help children using the X-ray room feel more comfortable. "We decided on the animal theme as it is so universal and appeals to both boys and girls. Another benefit is that it won't date, unlike cartoon characters which can be popular one minute and out of favour the next," said Arnold.
Clinical rooms can be frightening places for children, so anything which softens them is really welcome
Nigel Beeton, imaging services manager at the hospital, added: "We knew Lucy and her sister had an artistic flair so approached them about the project. What we ended up with was beyond our wildest dreams - it's absolutely fantastic. Clinical rooms can be frightening places for children, so anything which softens them is really welcome. In the past, the first thing you saw when you came into the room was the X-ray machine, but now it's a friendly lion, which makes a big difference."
