Lily Pad Appeal Update – heading towards the final furlong
Despite hugely challenging times financially, through the Lily Pad Appeal we have raised £660,000 so far, and we are pleased to report that great progress has been made. It is so inspiring to see the new Cancer Unit, part of the wider transformation of Acute Paediatric Services at Croydon University Hospital taking shape, which simply would not have been possible without your help!
Site Update
Work on the new unit is in full swing and remains on track to receive its first patient on 10th May 2022. Ceilings are being closed to the dedicated chemotherapy day unit and inpatient rooms and the walls have received their first coat of paint. In fact, 90% of the unit has been mist coated in preparation for final receipt of the bespoke bed head joinery!
New doors are being hung to the inpatient bedrooms and cable flow units, that will provide a dedicated power source to each bed space, are on track to finish this year. Vinyl flooring within the en-suite wet rooms has commenced in preparation for fixtures and fittings and mechanical and electrical services continue to be installed ready for commissioning.
Typical bedroom en-suite flooring underway.
Interconnecting high level M&E
Cable Flow panels installed for each bed space
Oncology bedroom with bespoke electric hoist.
High Acuity bedroom. Doors hung and mist coated ready for final decoration.
“We’re making some fantastic progress on the construction of our new children’s care unit and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the work of our teams – as well as the efforts of Lily Pad Appeal fundraisers – come to fruition. With walls up and floors down, the unit is starting to feel like part of the hospital and we are looking forward to signing off the construction and handing the unit over to our clinical teams, who will be delivering life-saving care to Croydon’s children.”
Warren Peacock, Project Manager
A place to play
Play is a vital part of development for children and brings joy to young people on a daily basis. The development of play areas as part of the wider build offers:
– Support for children’s cognitive, emotional, physical and social development
– Respite from clinical care which can be intrusive e.g. blood tests and transfusions ·
– Access to play for siblings of children receiving hospital treatment
– A wellbeing boost for families who can rest and reflect while their child safely plays ·
– Access to play for deprived families and looked after children
The hospital has worked with playground equipment specialists to develop some exciting designs for the areas, which, now complete will be commissioned and installed in both our junior and toddler courtyards. The toddler play area will include 10 play features including a play tower with bridge, while our playground for older children houses a climbing wall, basketball hoop and interactive equipment to keep young people entertained for hours. Inside, there will be a chill-out room complete with games consoles and football tables for teenagers and a state-of-the-art sensory room.
As well as providing a calming, non-clinical space for children with additional needs, the room will be used by trained Drama-therapists to support young people in communities across the borough to process their grief in a healthy and safe way, whether coming to terms with the end of their own lives or those who have been bereaved through the loss of a family member.
The bespoke outside play spaces for neutropenic children are taking shape with the installation of wet pour rubber (in line with play area legislation) to minimise any risk if a child falls. Sensory room designs are also being developed.
The climate could not be more adverse and in these most challenging of times, our commitment to the project is unwavering. Due to the surge in the price of building materials over the last 18 months as well as delays and disruptions caused by the pandemic, the Croydon University Hospital Trust notified us that the costs associated with the Oncology Unit build have risen considerably. Having come so far in the appeal we have agreed to extend our support for a further year to reflect these new demands.
The progress made in fundraising over the past two years is one of our greatest achievements. We have hit our milestones and providing the sizeable funding needed to realise such a transformational project for Croydon University Hospital Paediatric Oncology Services. The creation of the new modern Oncology Unit will give young patients the facilities and level of care they desperately need and deserve.
Many of our funding partners are already renewing their support and we are reaching out to new prospects all the time. We’ve also got a year packed full of fundraising events and challenges offering individuals, families, groups and businesses in the community so many ways to raise funds with us and keep driving forward towards our target.
For more information and if you would like to support us please do get in touch.
