Royal Albert Edward Infirmary - Refurbishment of Children's Unit

We are seeking funds for a project which will improve the experience children have when visiting hospital.

The Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan treats children from across Wigan and down towards the Bolton area. The hospital is shortly to relocate the Children’s Outpatients’ Department, by refurbishing an existing building that has been used as office space.

All budgets are already in place for the basic refurbishment, including redecoration, installing medical equipment and a reception area. However, the budget does not stretch to enhancing the area to be friendly and welcoming to children.

Although the new department will be a huge improvement from the old department, which is located in a windowless basement, staff feel that now is the opportunity to make the new waiting area somewhere children want to spend time.

It is inevitable even with the best of intentions that children do sometimes wait for long periods of time before seeing consultants. If a child becomes bored and fractious before an appointment it will be far more difficult for the doctor to speak to the child and properly diagnose problems. Medical staff are convinced that by making hospitals child-friendly the attitude of the child to hospital in general is much better, and the relationship they can build with the child is improved.

To make the large waiting area somewhere the children can relax and play in we have been asked to provide approximately £14,000 of refurbishments and equipment.