Ronnie Cooper and Henriette Johnson held the ribbon for NNUH Clinical lead, Caroline Banson, to cut, allowing everyone into the new complex, which consists of a twin paediatric theatre suite, a recovery unit, and associated staff and patient supporting facilities. NNUH Chief Executive, Nick Hulme said: “This is a major development for paediatrics at the N&N. Not only will this unit provide the very latest equipment, but it will do so in an environment which is vibrant, engaging, and welcoming, for our younger patients, and supports our ambition to be a leading provider of specialist paediatric care in the East of England.”
Thanks to a £160,000 grant from N&N Hospitals Charity, both theatres have audiovisual equipment installed, ensuring that these new operating facilities can be used for training and education, recording, conferencing, improved digital documentation, and improved visual clarity for the whole team. Part of the grant has also paid for engaging artwork by Norfolk artist, Toby Rampton, and Norfolk storyteller, Amanda Smith, who has provided a narrative to run alongside the artwork.
Julie Cooper, Norfolk & Norwich Hospitals Charity head of Grants, said: “We are extremely pleased to see how donations to our charity have made it possible for enhancements to be made to the new surgical theatres for the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital. We hope the installation of the wonderful artwork by Toby Rampton and words by Amanda Smith have made the hospital environment a friendlier place for children and families at what can be a very stressful time. We also look forward to seeing how the audiovisual equipment we have funded for each of the new theatres will enhance the ability to train and develop NHS staff for many years to come.”
The new team will undertake theatre procedures initially over five days a week – including orthopaedics. The opening of this new complex will also provide additional capacity to theatres more generally, as paediatric patients will now move out of general theatres to be treated in these new facilities.
NNUH said: “Sustainability is also high on the agenda, with Consultant Paediatric anaesthetist, Dr Amy Greengrass leading the way. The team will be continuing with waste segregation to reduce emissions from waste, and will be aiming to use cylinders of nitrous oxide (gas and air) to avoid leakages and waste of a potent greenhouse gas known to be associated with piped nitrous oxide.”