Hospital stays for young people with cancer are now more positive and stimulating, thanks to the installation of printed ceilings in the day unit of Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
Armstrong Ceiling Solutions has fitted acoustic ceilings featuring sky scenes and shoals of fish at the hospital’s newly-revamped Ocean Unit as part of its support for the charity, Rays of Sunshine.
The ceiling systems donated by Armstrong total almost 300sq m and were installed for free as a part of a ward wish by specialist sub-contractor, H + L Ceilings.
The BioGuard ceiling tiles, which have anti-bacterial benefits, were finished with a coating of sky scenes in the recovery bay for older children; a school of fish swimming down a river in the reception/waiting area corridor; and a shoal of fish in a small treatment room.
They were installed over two weekends, with the old tiles from the 10-bed ward being sent to Armstrong's factory in Gateshead for recycling.
The new tiles are based around the company's streamlined TLS grid, which is up to 20% faster to install.
And around 35% of the tiles were supplied with a number on the back so that the fitters could follow layout guidelines.
H+L director, Darren Hopkins, said: "When Armstrong asked us to install the project we were more than happy to get involved. It was treated like any other job, but the installation team volunteered themselves for the weekend work."
And of the innovative tile numbering system, he added: "We have never had to work that way before, but it was pretty easy to install by following the instructions Armstrong gave us."
Jane Thomas, donations co-ordinator for the children's services division of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust added: "The work completed by Armstrong Ceilings has made the area a brighter, but still calm, place for the children to be in, with the fish gently swimming through.
“Especially popular is the large bay under the tropical picture, where the children can recover following treatment."