A BORDERS couple have helped create chill-out spaces for NHS staff at hospitals.

A cupboard at the Borders General Hospital (BGH) has been transformed into a 'NOVID' space, while a visitors' room in Edinburgh has been graced with cushions, crystal lamps and incense.

Reporter Hilary Scott found out more about these havens of tranquility.

Ian and Paula McFadyen are the proprietors of House of Gaia – a mind, body and spirit shop on Peebles' High Street – which boasts one of the largest selections of crystals in Scotland.

The couple are very passionate about healing and helping others, so when Jennifer Anderson, a charge nurse at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, approached them for advice on how to create a calm room for her staff to escape from the pressures of their shift, they did one better and donated everything they needed to create the chill zone.

The Peebles nurse had a budget of £50 to spend, but this was knocked back by the couple, who gifted items to the hospital as a thank you for their service during the pandemic.

Jennifer said: “The room we transformed was originally the relatives' room but we don’t have any visitors just now, which is heartbreaking. I wanted to make it really quiet, calm, and peaceful for the staff. Ian came with a massive bag full of stuff, which included a salt lamp, diffuser, Buddha, books, and crystals.

“He had offered to set it up for us but obviously because of restrictions we couldn’t accept his kind offer. However, I took some before pictures and it really was the most boring, uninspiring room. Thanks to Ian and Paula it looks amazing and we are so grateful.”

Staff now call the space “a place of hope” and Jennifer says it has made a huge difference to their lives during this difficult time.

“It’s been very positively received by staff as such a calming place. Our staff room is tiny and with social distancing in place we now have another room where staff can go which makes such a difference.”

The hospital also has a positivity board where staff have pinned post-it notes of the things they are going to do when lockdown ends.

“There has been lots of things added like wild camping to going on a motorbike, but there are some who just long to see their grandchildren again,” said Jennifer.

After hearing about the positive effects the room had on the mental well-being of staff in Edinburgh, the House of Gaia owners offered to do the same for the BGH in Melrose.

A cupboard which has been given a makeover is now a calming room for staff to escape to when they are having a “wobble”.

Zoe Spence, a charge nurse in COVID Ward 3, says her colleagues have nicknamed their chill-out space the ‘NOVID Room’ as there is no chat of COVID or PPE when they sit in there.

“We thought it would be a good idea to create a wobble room in the ward for staff as the ward that we’re working in is a COVID-19 unit with 30 beds,” said Zoe.

“We are at team that have been put together from lots of different areas and it’s an anxious time for all so we decided to create this space. Ian has been so generous with his donation to our ward and we are so grateful.”

This was echoed by Shonagh Milne at Haylodge Community Hospital who, after speaking with nursing friends benefitting from these zen dens, created one.

She said: “I didn’t expect to receive such a big bag full of amazing mindfulness items. We have transformed one of our rooms for the staff to go and take a five-minute breather or to have their break in if they wish. Everyone’s feedback has been really positive and we love our new room.”

Coronavirus may have forced House of Gaia’s doors to close to customers, but it opened up a new door for Ian and Paula to help the “angels” of the NHS.

When they were first asked to create a space for stressed staff at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Ian says he and Paula didn’t hesitate. “We looked at each other and smiled. I think our exact words were ‘how blessed are we to be able to help the amazing staff in our incredible NHS’.

“We hastily started pulling a beautiful collection of crystals and a variety of well-being goods from our shop. We are lucky to have a mind, body, spirit shop and know the difference surroundings can have on one's mental and emotional well-being.

“I put an appeal on Facebook asking if anyone had any contacts at the BGH who would want to set up a similar project for their staff team. Within hours we were contacted to ask if we could assist setting up a wobble room for stressed staff.”

We are all in this together – the mantra has been recited globally, but has found champions in Ian and Paula McFadyen, who opened the doors of their quaint wee shop in Peebles to help fight this virus in a unique way.

“Due to the pandemic our High Street is looking quiet and lack lustre. Many are wondering what businesses will survive through this crisis. We just wanted to do our little bit by giving back to those who are on the frontline. And to let our community know that this independent business is working hard but in a slightly different way.”

Wobble rooms, zen dens, chill zones, and even ‘NOVID’ cupboards. Whatever they are named, they provide what is needed for NHS staff now more than ever. A place to rest, relax and breathe when the going gets tough amid the battle against this invisible foe.