Frimley Park opens newly refurbished children's ward.

Staff, patients and relatives gathered in the new-look F1 ward on Wednesday 4 October to celebrate the project which took 16 months to complete and cost £1.85 million. 

Sir Andrew Morris, chief executive of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, was joined by ten-year-old inpatient Tegan Comber who cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony. 

The upgraded ward boasts a combination of newly built and upgraded facilities including a new treatment room, a larger paediatric assessment unit, single-sex teenage bays, two oncology rooms and a larger play room.

Sir Andrew said: “This is an absolutely stunning facility which helps support the fantastic people who provide outstanding care day in, day out. It’s a first class ward and as good as it gets in the NHS.”

The event was also an opportunity to thank local fundraisers. These included the KatCanDo charity which contributed more than £6,000 towards furnishing the oncology rooms, as well as the Monteagle knitters and the Jingle Jog fun run whose donations have helped with the purchase of a new resuscitaire for the treatment of smaller babies. 

The ward, which sees over 2,500 children each year, now has a state-of-the-art cardiac monitor in the refurbished assessment room linked directly to a purpose-built nurses’ station. 

Lois Doel, paediatrics matron, who helped implement the refurbishment said: “It’s been a really exciting project. We’ve involved staff, patients and relatives in the decision process to ensure we’ve created an environment which improves everyone’s time on the ward.

“For example, we have new recliner chairs which relatives can sleep on so they can stay with their child throughout the night.” 

Jen Lomas, head of paediatrics and neonatal care at Frimley Park said: “The improvements are outstanding not just from a patient care perspective, but also provide a bright and modern place for our staff to work in.”