New sensory machine for paediatric cardiology at Musgrove Park Hospital
The cardiology team at Musgrove Park Hospital is now using a brand new sensory
machine to help distract and comfort younger patients, and those with additional
needs, during their heart scans.
The new unit – costing around £3,000 – was fully funded by a generous donation
from the hospital’s League of Friends.
It brings colourful LED lights, fibreoptic strands and gentle ceiling projections into the
hospital’s echocardiogram rooms, making what can often be an anxious experience
feel calmer, more engaging, and much more child‑friendly.
Amy Szewiel, an advanced clinical scientist in echocardiography at Somerset NHS
Foundation Trust, which runs Musgrove Park Hospital, said the difference it makes is
already clear.
“A lot of our patients, especially children and people with learning disabilities or
sensory needs, find it hard to lie still on their back while we carry out an
echocardiogram,” she said.“It’s a very important scan that lets us look closely at how the heart is working, but it
can be daunting if you’re young or easily overwhelmed.“We can’t thank the League of Friends and their supporters enough, as although this
equipment might seem simple, the impact on our patients is huge. It brings comfort
at a time when they really need it, and it means a lot to us to be able to offer that.”
League of Friends President Clinton Rogers said the committee had unanimously
supported the bid from the hospital’s cardiology department.
“Anything that can improve the patient experience, especially for young people, is what the League is all about,” he said. “We were delighted to support the bid.”
Amy works closely with her colleague Nelisa Sagrado, one of Somerset NHS
Foundation Trust’s cardiac physiologists, to scan patients with congenital heart
disease. Amy added that the new sensory equipment is helping to transform that experience.
“The unit has beautiful LED tubing and fibreoptic strands that light up when you touch them, and the projector casts calming images and colours onto the ceiling,” she said. “It means patients have something soothing to focus on while we’re doing the scan. Instead of staring at a blank ceiling, they can look at soft, shifting lights that help them relax.”
Amy said the team had been looking for ways to better support paediatric patients
and having something like this makes a huge difference.
“You can really see the difference in the patient the moment the room lights up, as they become more curious, more comfortable, and much less anxious about what’s happening,” she said. She added that the sensory elements also give patients a sense of choice and control during the procedure. “For some children, holding the fibreoptic strands or watching the images on the ceiling is enough to keep them engaged for the full scan,” she says. “Anything that helps them stay still and calm ultimately makes their experience better and helps us capture the images we need to complete the scan.”
Amy said the team is excited to continue using the sensory unit and is already
seeing how it helps build trust and reassurance in children who may need future
appointments.
“It’s lovely when a child comes back for another scan and remembers the lights or the projector from last time,” she added. “It gives them something positive to associate with being here, and that can make all the difference.”