Posted on: 31 Jan 2024
A new family room, which will provide respite for parents and carers of critically ill children, has been officially opened at Nottingham Children’s Hospital.
The side room on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) gives families a chance to step away from the ward environment into a homely and welcoming space, with comfortable seating, relaxing artwork and a well-equipped kitchen area.
It also provides a space where clinicians can have conversations with parents and carers, away from their child’s bedside, and families can meet and benefit from the support of others who are going through a similar experience.
The refurbished room was funded by the True Colours Trust’s ‘Breathing Spaces’ programme and Nottingham Hospitals Charity, and was officially opened by representatives from both charities, along with PICU staff and families, on Tuesday 30th January 2024.
Parent Zoe Thompson cuts the ribbon to open the room
Lucy Sainsbury, Chair of the True Colours Trust, said: “"We are delighted that the team at Nottingham Children's Hospital shares our vision for providing dedicated rooms for parents.
“This wonderful new room demonstrates that it is possible to create comfortable, welcoming spaces in hospitals for parents to take time to rest, eat together or just have some breathing space away from the bedside of their child."
Nigel Gregory, Deputy Chief Executive of Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so grateful to the True Colours Trust for their donation of £20,000 towards this project.
“This room make a real difference to families every single day, during an extremely difficult time in their lives. It’s been a pleasure to officially open the room today, and see first-hand what a positive impact it will have on families during their child’s time in PICU.”
Sophie Wilne, Clinical Director of Nottingham Children’s Hospital, said: “This family room will make such a difference to families whose children are being cared for in PICU.
“This can be an incredibly stressful time for parents and carers, and this room offers them some respite from the busy hospital environment. They can come and make a hot drink, sit on a comfortable sofa, and have some sense of normality for a short while before returning to their child’s bedside, hopefully feeling a little more rested and refreshed.
“Thank you to the True Colours Trust and Nottingham Hospitals Charity for making this possible.”
PICU staff, parents, and representatives from the True Colours Trust and Nottingham Hospitals Charity
Nottingham Hospitals Charity is continuing to raise money for Nottingham Children’s Hospital through its Big Appeal, which aims to raise £1.5million for improvements to facilities such as play areas and family rooms across the Children’s Hospital and its new Neonatal Unit.