Families of young patients along with their clinicians attended the opening, giving everyone to see first hand how £250,000 in donations from incredible supporters to Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s (ACT) is making hospital a more welcoming place for sick children; improving the unit over and above what NHS funding can do alone.
The existing space has been reconfigured, making better use of the rooms available, bright and colourful child-friendly artwork created by local artist Alex Naidoo has created a more cheerful environment for children, parents and carers, while interactive wall-mounted play systems and floor lights help to distract and occupy children during lengthy consultations. Mobile sensory units also provide fun and distraction for children on the wards.
Simone Wilby, mum to Kodie who has been attending the PDU since a kidney tumour diagnosis three years ago said: “It sounds strange but Kodie actually looks forward to coming to ‘big hospital’ now and gets excited about playing with the toys and new equipment. He especially loves the sensory equipment and wall mounted play system – it keeps his mind busy so that he’s not thinking about anything else. It removes the stress from both him and me.”
Of course, we want to do so much more and still need to raise much-needed funds for a range of life-saving equipment, specialist support staff roles and pioneering research to transform the care sick children at Addenbrooke’s receive.
ACT wants to do so much more and still needs to raise much-needed funds for a range of life-saving equipment, specialist support staff roles and pioneering research to transform the care young patients at Addenbrooke’s receive.
Visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/children to help make Addenbrooke’s amazing for young patients or call 01223 217757 for more information.
Image: L-R: Lulu Devries & Anna Lawson open the newly refurbished PDU