The Bronte Ward sensory room at the Bluestone Unit, Craigavon Area Hospital represents an innovative and collaborative design solution that enhances recovery within an inpatient mental health environment. The project was developed to address a critical challenge faced by staff on the ward – how to support patients experiencing acute distress in a way that reduces reliance on medication while promoting emotional regulation and recovery.
Bronte Ward is an inpatient mental health ward that supports adults experiencing a wide range of mental health conditions. Many patients admitted to the ward experience heightened anxiety, emotional distress and stress during periods of illness. Staff recognised that the existing ward environment lacked a dedicated therapeutic space where individuals could regulate their emotions safely and step away from the busy clinical setting.
The project began with a shared vision among the ward’s multidisciplinary team to create a sensory environment that could provide a calming and engaging therapeutic experience. Rather than simply installing equipment, the team worked collaboratively with Creative Activity to explore different design solutions that would best support patient wellbeing while integrating seamlessly into the ward environment.
Through site visits, consultation and collaborative planning, the team assessed how an underutilised room could be transformed into a visually engaging sensory installation that would support recovery. Staff provided valuable insight into patient behaviours, sensory needs and the practical realities of working within an inpatient ward. These insights helped shape the design, ensuring the final environment was both therapeutic and functional.
The completed space combines interactive sensory features including a bubble tube with colour-changing light, fibre optic strands, projection lighting, tactile panels, sensory mirrors, vibrating bumpas, a sensory rocker and starry sensory flooring. Together these elements create a visually stimulating yet calming environment where light, movement and texture work together to encourage relaxation and emotional regulation.
The design introduces a distinctive visual identity within the ward while remaining fully integrated within the hospital environment. By transforming an unused room into a therapeutic retreat, the project enhances the overall healing environment and provides a flexible space that staff can use to support de-escalation, one-to-one engagement and recovery-focused care.
Energy-efficient LED lighting and durable materials were used throughout the installation to ensure long-term sustainability and minimal maintenance requirements.
The collaborative design process has had a significant impact on patient care. Since the installation of the sensory room in May 2025, the ward has reported measurable reductions in restrictive interventions including violence, aggression and self-harm. Staff have also reported reduced reliance on medication during periods of distress as patients are able to access a calming environment that supports emotional regulation.
The Bronte Ward sensory installation demonstrates how creative design thinking, strong teamwork and service user-focused planning can transform a simple space into a therapeutic environment that supports recovery and improves patient outcomes.
Links:
Case Study Video: https://youtu.be/GkDlJOqNF9U
Southern Health and Social Care Trust Video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Hjh5CG4d7/
Blog: https://www.creative-activity.co.uk/latest_news/Case%20Study:%20Sensory%20Room%20at%20the%20Bluestone%20Unit%20%E2%80%93%20Craigavon%20Hospital.html
