Croydon has a new service dedicated to children requiring hospital care.
Opening day: hospital staff delighted with the new pediatric unit
The newly named £7million Rainbow Unit was opened this week by Croydon Health Services NHS Trust chairman Mike Bell.
The Rainbow children’s unit nameplate was also unveiled by Anisha, 5, from Coulsdon, who won the opportunity to design the unit’s name and logo following a children’s competition local.
“We are absolutely delighted to be opening the Rainbow Children’s Unit to our pediatric patients,” said Elaine Clancy, Croydon’s joint chief nurse and executive manager of the project.
“Caring for one of the largest young populations in the capital, NHS Croydon can now provide even better care for local children when they need us most.
“In addition to providing us with additional space to enhance the experience for patients, their families and our own staff, the unit gives us the ability to provide more complex care closer to home, reducing unnecessary travel. of our sickest patients.
“I am both incredibly proud of everyone who has been involved in the development of this unit and grateful for the generosity of the fundraisers who have supported our children’s cancer unit and our playgrounds at the state-of-the-art technology, which will make life better. young people in hospital.
Game on: the well-equipped unit hopes to make hospital stays less stressful for the youngsters
The new facility can provide care for nearly 40 local children and includes a medical ward, surgical ward and short-stay unit, as well as improved facilities for patients and visitors, such as family areas and break rooms. relaxation and a number of play areas and playgrounds. , funded by the Trust’s dedicated charity.
Construction also includes the addition of an all-new intensive care unit and a children’s cancer unit, allowing the Trust to provide care closer to home for even more of the world’s sickest children. ‘arrondissement.
The cancer unit was partly funded by the Chartwell Cancer Trust, which partnered with the NHS in 2018 to create The Lily Pad Appeal, which raised £750,000 for the new facility.
Michael Douglas, chief executive of the Chartwell Cancer Trust, said: “Bringing state-of-the-art oncology facilities to Croydon’s sickest children is an achievement we are so proud to have achieved alongside so many dedicated fundraisers. in the borough.
“It was a fantastic collaborative effort that relied on the support of individuals and groups from across the community. Our commitment to Croydon is unwavering and we will continue to devote our energies to funding support services, family groups, resources and equipment to ensure cancer care in Croydon is second to none.
Dr Edward Holloway, Consultant Pediatrician, said: “This project has been one of our ambitions for several years and to see us open the doors of our new unit to children for the first time has been nothing short of fantastic.
Spacious: the new unit transformed some of the old Mayday Hospital buildings
“This unit will help us ensure that our services reflect the needs and complex health conditions of the young people we treat, while providing a calm, welcoming and modern environment for children and their families.
“We are very proud of the care we provide in Croydon and now that we have the facilities to offer even more new and improved services, it is clear that our pediatric services will continue to go from strength to strength.
“We are extremely grateful to all of our supporters, including those who have raised funds for the Lily Pad Appeal and the Power of Play Appeal, each of whom has helped make a difference in the lives of the sickest children in the district.”
