The day room on Coln Ward at Cirencester Hospital was the place to be last Thursday (18 July), as dozens of staff and students gathered for the official unveiling of its fabulous new murals.
Designed and painted by students studying graphics at Cirencester College, the colourful underwater scene, sunrise and intricate depiction of a dormouse, have brought to life what was previously a pretty unremarkable room, with plain walls and little character.
Coln Ward Manager Karen Fawcett said: “I had this idea just over a year ago, to create something more patient friendly and more inviting for our day room.
“I approached the college asking for help and liaised with the graphics tutor Will, who was really excited for his students to be involved in the project.
“I gave him the brief of what we were looking for. I met the students with some of my colleagues. They were really excited to be a part of this project – it was a great opportunity for them to be creative.
“They produced so many fantastic designs, from which we chose three – the dormouse, the rising sun and the underwater scene.
“Mainly because each mural would provide a different perspective to different patients. So the sunrise is really calming. The dormouse is really intricate, so people can really understand and look at it.
“And the underwater scene has really nice bright colours. So for patients with dementia, it has really clear edges and really precise visions and pictures. This will help our staff provide dementia care when using the day room for activities with our inpatients.
“Over the time the students were here painting the murals, I was absolutely amazed by how grown-up they were; how they loved coming onto the ward and saying ‘good morning’ to everybody.
“We had patients coming into the day room as the students were painting, and they were chatting and engaging with the patients.
“I think they’ve enjoyed being a part of something that makes such a difference to our patients on Coln Ward.”
Also present at the unveiling was Sheila Rees, Chair of Cirencester Hospital League of Friends, who generously donated the money to buy the paint and materials for the project.
Sheila said: “We were approached by Karen a year or so ago, asking if we would support and pay for the paint and expenses. We were delighted – this is just the sort of thing we want to do for the hospital.
“The murals are absolutely amazing. The students have done such a good job – they have really used their imagination, let it run and had such a lovely time. The patients, I think, will let their imaginations run and have a good time as well.
“It’s great that the hospital and college have worked so well together. I’ve been in the day room a couple of times and seen the students painting away, paint pots around them.
“They were so appreciative of being involved, and I think they realised how much benefit the patients are going to get from their fabulous artwork.”
The murals were unveiled by Trust Chair, Graham Russell, who officially opened the new-look day room with the cutting of the obligatory ceremonial ribbon.
Graham said: “It’s been a great pleasure to unveil these fantastic murals. The students at Cirencester College have done an absolutely amazing job.
“I’d like to say a massive thank you to the students, the League of Friends, Karen and our colleagues at Cirencester Hospital, who came up with the idea. They have turned a day room that was great, into a day room that is fantastic. Thank you all so much.”
