A NEW sensory machine to help distract and comfort younger patients and those with additional needs during their heart scans is now in use by the cardiology team in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

The £3,000 unit, fully funded by the hospital’s league of friends, brings colourful LED lights, fibreoptic strands, and gentle ceiling projections into the echocardiogram rooms, making what can often be an anxious experience feel calmer, more engaging, and more child‑friendly.

Advanced clinical scientist in echocardiography Amy Szewiel said it was already making a difference.

Ms Szewiel said: “A lot of our patients, especially children and people with learning disabilities or sensory needs, find it hard to lie still on their back while we carry out an echocardiogram.

“It is an important scan that lets us look closely at how the heart is working, but it can be daunting if you are young or easily overwhelmed.

“We cannot thank the league of friends and their supporters enough, as although this equipment might seem simple, the impact on our patients is huge.

“It means patients have something soothing to focus on while we are doing the scan.

“Instead of staring at a blank ceiling, they can look at soft, shifting lights that help them relax.

“It brings comfort at a time when they really need it.

“For some children, holding the fibreoptic strands or watching the images on the ceiling is enough to keep them engaged for the full scan.

“You can really see the difference in the patient the moment the room lights up, as they become more curious, more comfortable, and much less anxious about what is happening.”

League of friends president Clinton Rogers said the committee unanimously supported the bid from the cardiology department.

Mr Rogers said: “Anything that can improve the patient experience, especially for young people, is what the league is all about.”