New £7million children’s ward in Croydon

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has opened a new dedicated ward for children.

The £7million unit was officially opened on Tuesday last week by trust chairman Mike Bell alongside chief executive Matthew Kershaw and chief nurse Elaine Clancy.

Also in attendance were paediatric consultant Dr Edward Holloway and head of nursing for children’s services, Sarah Mclaggan, who have been an integral part of the project team.

The name of the unit: ‘Rainbow Children’s Unit’ was also officially unveiled by five-year-old Anisha from Coulsdon, who won the opportunity to design the name and logo for the unit following a competition for local children.

Ms Clancy, who is executive lead for the project as well joint chief nurse, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to open Rainbow Children’s Unit to our paediatric patients in Croydon.

“Looking after one of the largest populations of young people in the capital, Croydon’s NHS can now provide even better care for local children when they need us most, now and in the future.

“As well as providing us with additional space to improve the experiences for patients, their families and our own staff, the unit gives us the opportunity to deliver more complex care closer to home, reducing unnecessary travel for our sickest patients.

“I’m both incredibly proud of all of the people who have been involved in the development of this unit and grateful to the generosity of fundraisers who have supported our children’s cancer unit and state of the art playgrounds, both of which will improve the lives of young people undergoing hospital treatment.”

The state-of-the-art facility, which can provide care for almost 40 local children, houses a medical ward, surgical ward and a short stay unit, as well as providing improved facilities for patients and visitors, such as family spaces and relaxation rooms and a number of play spaces and playgrounds, funded by the Trust’s dedicated charity.

Pictured top: Staff at the new ward