ESSEX’S first purpose-built children’s A&E department welcomed some very important guests to celebrate its completion.
School pupils, who helped to raise funds for the brand new facility at Basildon University Hospital, attended a special preview before it opened to patients today (Thursday 1 March).
The new facility, part of a £17m expansion of the A&E department, has been designed to provide a calm and reassuring environment for children and young people, and their families, who may be feeling worried and anxious.
An ambitious fund-raising effort provided money for furniture, equipment and artwork to make the surroundings as cheerful and welcoming as possible. The Polly Parrot Appeal, launched by the Trust in October 2010, raised £100,000 with the help of the local community and businesses, and hospital staff. The funds have been used to buy multi-sensory equipment and items such as books, toys and games to help put young patients at ease and distract them from any pain or discomfort they are feeling.
Schoolchildren and members of the public were invited to make suggestions about the how the money should be spent. Many of their ideas have been incorporated into the design and fitting of the new department, such as a quiet reading area in the waiting room, a message board where children can write about themselves and how they are feeling, and a garden theme for the artwork.
Most rooms and areas of the children’s A&E department have sensory features to entertain and calm patients, such as fibre optic twinkling stars on the ceiling and a projector which showers images onto the walls and floors, such as waves, fish, butterflies and even a football pitch.
On wednesday, pupils from each local school that supported the appeal were invited on a tour of the unit. The schools involved, which together raised £10,000, were Eversley Primary, Giffords Primary, Shaw Primary, Corringham Primary, Wickford Junior, Shenfield High, Mayflower High, Gable Hall School, as well as South Essex College in Basildon.
The new department has its own separate waiting area, with toys, games and baby changing facilities, six bays for treating minor and major injuries, rooms for triage, plastering and eye treatments and an area for adolescents.
The Polly Parrot appeal was co-ordinated by Helen Mattock, an accountant at the Trust. She said: “The whole community, and Trust staff, have been absolutely fantastic and so generous in helping with this fundraising. We could not have done it without their support and kindness.”
Lokesh Narayanaswamy, A&E consultant, said: “It is so important to treat ill and injured children in surroundings that make them feel safe and reassured. This new A&E with all its wonderful equipment underlines the Trust’s commitment to providing the best possible care for children and young people.
“We particularly wanted the local schoolchildren to see what their hard work had achieved, before the unit becomes a working department, and to thank everyone who has helped create such an excellent environment for the care of young patients.”
