£40k hospital wet room 'making all the difference' to patient recovery
The new facility is thanks to funding from Stars Appeal
Patients recovering from burns or reconstructive surgery at Salisbury District Hospital are benefiting from a new £40,000 wet room.
The space, funded by the Stars Appeal, offers patients a comfortable and private area to wash as they heal from their trauma.
Situated on the Odstock Ward, It includes a walk-in shower and is accessible for wheelchairs and other mobility aids, helping patients recovering from severe burns or reconstructive surgery to adjust to a new personal care routine with privacy and dignity.
Army veteran Craig Winspear was the first patient to use the room after being treated for sepsis in his leg at the hospital.
He said: “It was fantastic to get into a nice shower after being bedbound. Being able to have a proper wash was amazing in itself. Having a wet room like this with lots of space where I can move around more comfortably made all the difference. I was also able to have my music playing which made it feel more like home.”
Craig, who served in the Army for a decade, lost both of his legs after an improvised explosive device went off while he was serving in Afghanistan.
He added: “Being a double amputee it’s great to be able to relax in a bath after spending time in a hospital bed. Some people can be bedbound for quite a long time so when they are able to have a proper shower it’s a big thing – it gives you your independence and boosts your morale. A simple thing as a shower is something that people take for granted. Thank you to the brilliant donors who have helped fund this!”
Senior Sister on Odstock Ward, Hazel Jackson, says the facility is boosting the care patients receive: “This wet room is a huge benefit for all our patients. The walk-in shower is fully accessible to everyone, including wheelchair users, people who need to sit when they shower, and even patients who need to stay on their bed.
"Many of our burns and plastic surgery patients need daily showers as part of their treatment and some rooms on the ward don’t have a shower so we had to move patients around the ward. Now we can offer all of our inpatients and outpatients better treatment with these new facilities.
“The wet room is big enough to comfortably fit patients in their wheelchairs and still have room for staff members to help them with showering and their dressings when needed. Our patients now have a private washing space which also helps them to be more independent. A huge thank you to everyone who supports the Stars Appeal and make projects like this possible.”