Helium Arts’ Limerick artist, Chelsea Canavan, unveiled a brand new mural this week in the nurses’ station of the paediatric outpatients department in University Hospital Limerick.

The mural was painted as part of our hospital outpatients programme – ‘Create While You Wait’, much to the delight of families, patients and hospital staff.

‘Create While You Wait’ supports children and young people, aged 6 – 18 years, managing lifelong health conditions, to access creative activities in outpatient clinics while they wait to see the doctor and nurse.

Children and families can feel anxious or nervous about attending their hospital appointments. Professional artist, Chelsea Canavan, is helping by designing bespoke creative activity packs, and engaging with outpatients in the waiting room. Reflecting on their experience of Helium Arts in outpatient clinics, through the 2022 Helium Arts Impact Survey, 94% of children reported that they felt happier when going to hospital as a result of Helium Arts. 100% of parents indicated that theirs and their child’s healthcare experience was positively impacted.

The nurses station is the first stop for the patients after checking in at reception. Chelsea consulted with the nursing team working here throughout the project and between them they included some very practical uses for the mural. For example, the nurses can ask the children to count the birds on the wall or imagine what songs the birds are singing while they get their pre appointment checks done.

Speaking about the mural, Alison McCaffrey, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Paediatric Diabetes, UHL, said:

“The partnership with Helium Arts has been a tremendous support for children attending our clinics. I work with children with diabetes and engaging young people creatively while they are waiting not only provides a welcome distraction but also a fun, social environment where children can meet others who live with diabetes and may be wearing the same devices and they can feel less isolated in managing their condition. So it is brilliant in terms of peer support.”

“That is apart from the value of the art projects themselves and if the children aren’t taking their artworks or decorations home themselves, we can display them here in the hospital as well. The mural in the outpatients department is a gorgeous, bright piece of art that makes children attending for their appointment feel more welcome,” Ms McCaffrey added.

100% of medical professionals surveyed reported that their experience of delivering healthcare to children with lifelong physical health conditions had been positively impacted by Helium Arts.