Sheffield Children’s Hospital opens £40m new wing

Young patients from Yorkshire and beyond will be getting some of the best care in the world, thanks to new international-class hospital facilities opening in Sheffield today (21 April).

The new wing includes four new wards with award-winning artwork, therapy rooms, a patient dining room, a parent relaxation room, a teenager hangout room and has a Play Tower right at its heart.

All 72 new children’s beds have a fold-out bed next to them, giving parents a comfortable place to stay with their child. In addition, many patients will get individual rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

Patient Kodey Revell, aged 9, said: “It makes it feel like home.”

Even before opening, the new wing has won two awards – one from Design Week and one from Building Better Healthcare.

John Somers, Sheffield Children’s Hospital’s Chief Executive, said: “Our new wards are incredible. The space, privacy and facilities provided for patients are outstanding and will make a massive difference for the families we see at Sheffield Children’s.

“The opening of these wards matches our world-class care with world-class facilities.”

Moving to the new wards

Children are moving to the new wards today (21 April). Detailed planning is in place to ensure the move takes place smoothly and that children are kept safe and well looked after throughout.

Fun activities have also been planned for children who are well enough, like games, treasure hunts, crafts and colouring, to make the day as enjoyable and memorable as possible.

All children who move will also get a special certificate commemorating their involvement in the big day.

Half of the hospital’s wards are involved in the weekend move.

The new building includes a new main entrance and a new Outpatient Department, both of which opened at the end of 2016. A new Outpatients Pharmacy run by Rowlands opened in February this year and a Costa coffee shop and a retail area will be opening shortly.

Charitable funding

Sheffield Children’s has invested £40m in the new wing. Over £10m of that was raised by The Children’s Hospital Charity, with many generous supporters and companies sponsoring bedrooms, treatment and therapy rooms as well as the huge Play Tower – which was built to enable more play for children during inpatient stays at the hospital.

The charity has also funded new patient entertainment systems for each of the new beds.

The Children’s Hospital Charity Director, David Vernon-Edwards said: “We are so thankful to the many generous supporters that have helped us to raise this amount of money for the region’s biggest charitably supported healthcare project.

“We are delighted that together we’ve been able to provide cutting-edge facilities, above and beyond standard NHS provision, for children from all across the UK and beyond.”