Hair salon – autumn appeal 2018

“For many disabled patients, image and self-confidence are so important. If you look good it makes you feel good, and just because someone has a brain injury there’s no reason why they shouldn’t have their hair done and look their best.”
Debbie – RHN Hairdresser.

Leisure choices play a large part in defining who we are as individuals. They can enhance health and wellbeing, provide our lives with structure and give us something positive to look forward to.

For people living with the effects of life limiting brain injury, leisure opportunities play a vital role in boosting quality of life.

At the RHN we believe that everyone has the right to enjoy the best possible quality of life.  This is why our Leisure and Family Services (LaFS) provides a wide range of activities, entertainment programmes and outings which support our patients and residents holistic needs.  These activities help them regain confidence, communication skills and social relationships, whilst pursuing personal interests.

An important part of gaining self-confidence is the opportunity to look our best and that’s why the LaFS team established an onsite hair salon for all our patients and residents to make use of.

Debbie has been cutting hair at the RHN for 28 years, having started out as an assistant to the hospital’s previous hairdresser.

“It was a challenge to begin with.” Debbie says. “We didn’t have any specialist equipment back then and washing the hair of a patient in a wheelchair often meant getting soaking wet!”

Fortunately the RHN has since built a dedicated hair salon on the ground floor and Debbie and the other two hairdressers are kept busy with regular bookings. As Debbie explains

“Now we have adapted equipment like proper, height adjustable sinks the whole experience is much more relaxing for the patient. Having a dedicated space also means patients can bring family members to their appointments. When a patient has communication problems family members often advise us on how patients like to style their hair.”

One of Debbie’s regular visitors is Sally, a patient on Wolfson Ward, who enjoys a shampoo and set every week.

“My hair is curly so it needs styling regularly” she says, “and having my hair looking nice makes me feel good.”

Our hairdressing service is just one of a huge range of activities and services provided by the Leisure and Family Services Team. Everything they do is entirely funded through voluntary donations, from hairdressing, sporting activities, live music and film screenings. Every activity is designed to make life for our patients/residents as varied and fulfilling as possible.

This year we need to raise £300,000 to fund this key service. Any donation you can make will ensure patients like Sally can continue to access a service which is so vital to their confidence and wellbeing.