A dingy dining room has been given a cafe-style makeover with a new lick of paint, new lounge area, and new equipment.

It boasts a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a television, and it will be a relaxed oasis where staff can make a brief retreat when things begin to get a little too hectic.

The idea was put forward by the hospital’s new staff advisory council, which was set up earlier this year to give hospital staff a voice.

After talking with staff members the council discovered that the number one item on the staff’s Christmas wish list was a shared meeting place.

Acting Director of Nursing and Midwifery Simone Hazelman said staff often felt isolated from the other wards, and that a shared meeting place would be a chance to see new faces.

“Staff didn’t feel there was somewhere we could all come together, so this revised meeting space is somewhere where they can meet and feel comfortable,” Ms Hazelman said.

“It’s one of the things that has been recognised we do need; it’s been very well received by the staff.”