A new sensory room has officially opened at the Paediatric Ward at University Hospital Waterford.

The facility has been designed to support children with additional sensory needs, but will be available to all children attending the ward, including outpatient appointments.

The room has been equipped thanks to funding from the Juniors for Juniors foundation and features a bubble tube, projected screens, fibre optic tubes and an interactive 3D monitor.

Clinical Nurse Manager 2 at UHW, Ruth White, says the sensory room will provide a calming space for children and their families during what can often be a stressful hospital visit.

She says the resource has already made a significant difference for one non-verbal child, who associated the room with feeling safe and better able to cope during subsequent hospital appointments.

Co-founder and Director of Juniors for Juniors, Emer Kelly, says the charity is proud to have funded the project, adding that it was only made possible through the continued support of local communities, schools, businesses and fundraisers.

She says every euro raised by the foundation goes towards improving the experience of children receiving care, helping to make difficult hospital visits a little easier for young patients and their families.