Birmingham charity launches appeal for donations towards improving children's hospital facilities
They're asking for £250,000 to make wards more attractive and to build physiotherapy play areas.
Heartlands and Good Hope Hospital Charities have launched a children's appeal for £250,000.
It's to make wards more inviting and to build new play areas to encourage therapy through play.
They're hoping to make hospital experiences as relaxing as possible for young patients as well as their family and the staff treating them.
They're launching the £250,000 Children’s Appeal to help transform more of their Children's Outpatient Departments into welcoming environments for the 120,000 young patients seen every year.
They have already made a huge difference with refurbishments that have brightened up the Children’s Wards where young patients can stay for weeks at a time and a fantastic playground, providing a fun and safe space for the children to play as part of their recovery from treatment.
Paediatric Matron at Heartlands Hospital, Piper Wilkins said, “For parents, the wall decoration is an immediate indicator that they are entering a children’s area, and for our young patients it makes it less scary for them and more inviting with the different themed murals on the walls from jungle animals and pirates to hot air balloons and flowers.
“The outdoor play area has been a big hit with our young patients and is a multifunctional, safe space enabling staff to support those with both mental and physical disabilities.
"It’s helped staff to provide therapy to patients in a fun environment and helps build the bond between staff and patients.
“We can’t thank Heartlands Hospital Charity enough for understanding our needs and helping us create a more welcoming environment for our young patients and a big thank you to all the fabulous donors because without you, none of this would be possible.”
They now want to help the Children’s Outpatients and Physiotherapy Departments at Heartlands Hospital and the Children’s Physiotherapy Department at Good Hope Hospital to make those areas more child-friendly for the tens of thousands of our young patients who attend for outpatient treatment, many times a year.
They’ll also create bespoke play areas that will transform the way staff assess their young patients’ progress.
The new play area for the Physiotherapy Team will be similar to the one created for the in-patients.
The charity says: "We have already had some amazing donations from individuals and companies that have supported our young patients.
"We now need £250,000 to help bring a smile to even more of our young patients’ faces who are going through treatment."
For more information on how to help, head to: hospitalcharity.org/childrenandyoungpeople