Help for young patients (From Stroud News and Journal)

Help for young patients

A SPARKLING new £1.2 million Children's Centre will open at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital by the end of the month.

But a further £600,000 is needed to help furnish the facility with optional extras to make the hospital more child-friendly.

More than 10,000 county children will benefit each year from the facilities, paid for by a £1.2 million donation from The Pied Piper Appeal three years ago, and almost 24,000 will have follow up visits.

Appeal chairman Peter Hickman, who founded the charity in 1992 to help sick county children by improving care, said: "Many of these local children will be known to you - your own children, your colleagues' children and grandchildren, friends and neighbours.

"Whether their stay is for an hour, a day or longer, every child deserves the best medical care and healing environment."

The centre means fewer children will have to travel to Birmingham or Bristol for specialised treatment.

It will feature state-of-the-art equipment, bright and spacious wards, separate facilities for children and teenagers and relatives rooms,

The extra £600,000 will pay for extra hi-tech equipment and features such as animal-shaped examination couches and children's stethoscopes all aimed at increasing children's recovery rates.

Paul Lilley Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive officer, said: "These additional items and art enhancements will make the difference between the 'good' services for children which the NHS can afford, and 'excellent' services for children in Gloucestershire which they deserve."

To donate to the appeal call 01452 394119 or send a cheque or postal order to The Pied Piper Appeal Office, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NN.