'A landmark moment': Work begins in Bristol on UK's first patient hotel for sick children
Work has commenced in Bristol on the UK’s first purpose-built Patient Hotel for sick children and babies.
A groundbreaking ceremony marked the official start of construction today (Tuesday, February 24) for the project by Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, The Grand Appeal.
Diggers arrived on the site, just off Southwell Street in Kingsdown, as enabling contractors, Pennys Group, began excavating works.
The event celebrated the beginning of the development, which will allow patients to stay with their families and receive outpatient ongoing therapy and rehabilitation once they no longer require around-the-clock in-patient care in the hospital.
It is set to be transformational for young patients and their families across the South West and South Wales, and complement the expert treatment, therapy and rehabilitation offered in the children’s hospital.
As the first of its kind in the UK, this unique development will set a benchmark for ‘step-down’ facilities for patients after long, or repeated hospital stays.
Nicola Masters, director of The Grand Appeal, said: “Breaking ground today is a landmark moment for us, and for families across the South West.
“For years, we’ve listened to staff and parents and heard about children who are well enough to leave an acute ward but still need regular therapy and specialist support.
“This pioneering development is our answer.”
The Patient Hotel is made possible through The Grand Appeal’s long-standing partnership with Jingle Jam - the world's largest annual charity gaming event - raising over £2.66m for the development so far.
The new building will be called ‘Jingle Jam Building’ in recognition of their generous support.
Nicola added: “We’re incredibly grateful to the Jingle Jam community and every supporter who has helped turn this vision into a reality.
“Today is just the beginning, and we cannot wait to see the difference this facility will make to thousands of children for generations to come.”
The Patient Hotel will offer patients and families access to 12 ensuite rooms, with a communal kitchen, laundry and lounge areas.
Alongside the accommodation, hospital staff will utilise a purpose-built therapy and gym space, a specially adapted kitchen for hospital dieticians and an external landscaped garden for rehabilitation and relaxation.
The facilities will benefit children with a range of medical conditions, including those undergoing neurorehabilitation following a brain injury, those recovering from complex orthopaedic surgeries, and children who need daily input from dieticians, speech and language therapists or nutritionists.