Blackpool Victoria Hospital - Play Room

Blackpool Victoria Hospital Children’s Unit provides essential medical services for 5000 children from across West Lancashire every year. However, as well as the invaluable care already provided by the hospital, facilities for play are considered vital to the experience children have in hospital. Ensuring that babies, children and teenagers are happy and stimulated when in hospital can aid recovery.

 

Medical staff and play specialists have been concerned for some time that children being admitted to the Children’s Unit’s First Floor ward do not have a designated play space.  At present, children must play on the ward at their bedside. This situation is unsatisfactory for the children wanting to play, as they have no escape from the intimidating medical environment, and for other children who are more poorly and need to rest.

 

We aim to convert the existing schoolroom into a new play room that will provide the space and facilities that children need. The improvements will allow young patients to play with their toys away from the medical environment in a safe and modern space, and yet remain close to the ward. We need funds to allow us to strip out existing decorations, furnishings and storage areas, and to fit new built-in cabinets, book cases, TV, computer, desks and chairs and more play equipment to enhance what is already available on the ward.

 

The Play Specialists at Blackpool Victoria Hospital have considerable experience of working with sick children, and in using play and learning as a crucial part of a child’s recovery. They have designed the new play space with more focus on the children’s needs, and in particular the needs of the different ages of children being treated, including teenagers whose needs are often overlooked. 

 

The total cost of the new playroom is £12,230.00.