A Whole New Way
Welcome to the ninth newsletter from the
Cambridge Children's Hospital project
The Whole Picture
An update from Project Director, Alex White
An update from Project Director, Alex White
Firstly, a Happy New Year to you all!
The Cambridge Children’s Hospital project team is very proud of the progress we made in 2022. We ended the year on a high with the completion of our Outline Business Case (OBC), which was submitted to NHS England, NHS Improvement and the Department for Health and Social Care just before Christmas.
After our planning application for the hospital's early designs and floorplans were approved by Cambridge City Council, we held design sessions with staff, patients and the project team, including our committed group of parent Co-production Champions. In the Autumn, we looked at the internal designs of the hospital, including patient rooms and key spaces.
Our Children’s Network, Press Pack and Co-production Champions contributed so much during 2022, from working on the hospital design, supporting events and helping us spread the word about this exciting project. We couldn’t have got this far without them and are hugely grateful for their hard work.
We have been raising the profile of the project and the fundraising campaign through a number of events, including speaking to MPs and peers at Westminster, Cambridgeshire County Day, the Cambridge Festival, the Festival of Suffolk, RAREfest, and Presents Galore. This year we launch our ambitious regional engagement plan, visiting people, places and events in all six counties of the East of England.
Over 500 people have now pledged their support for Cambridge Children's Hospital, after we launched a campaign in November. If you haven’t already done so, please do pledge your support here - and share far and wide! This is open to all ages.
Finally, we are delighted that our clinical co-lead for mental health, Dr Isobel Heyman, was awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours List for her outstanding contribution to child and adolescent mental health services. You can read more here.
With best wishes,
Alex
A young participant designs decorations for her 'dream den', one of our arts engagement activities
A young participant designs decorations for her 'dream den', one of our arts engagement activities
Gathering feedback from children and young people about their new hospital is a key part of our project
Gathering feedback from children and young people about their new hospital is a key part of our project
Our parent Coproduction Champions have become valued members of our project teams
Our parent Coproduction Champions have become valued members of our project teams
Taking our hospital model to events has helped us spread the word about the project
Taking our hospital model to events has helped us spread the word about the project
Engaging our communities
Regional engagement plan
The East of England is a huge and diverse area, so it’s important we work within local communities to find out what children, young people, parents and carers want from their new children’s hospital. We are really looking forward to running creative and inspiring workshops and events in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. If you’d like to get involved, why not join our Cambridge Children’s Network and be the first to find out what’s going on in your area.
We will be taking our creative engagement workshops around the East of England
We will be taking our creative engagement workshops around the East of England
Cambridge Children's Press Pack
After a cracking year with our first Press Pack, we ran a recruitment programme to welcome a new cohort of enthusiastic young people. The response was phenomenal and we’d like to thank everyone who applied. This year, Hadia from Luton, Suzie from Bedford, Ann and Freya from Cambridge, Joshua from Peterborough, and Ali from Fenland, will work closely with our communications team to develop content for our website and social media. They will focus on the stories that matter to them. Ali has written living with hidden disabilities called ‘But you don’t look sick.’
Ali used a simple illustration to explain the reality of living with hidden conditions
Ali used a simple illustration to explain the reality of living with hidden conditions
Co-production Champions
Our eleven parent Co-production Champions have been very busy working across all aspects of the Cambridge Children’s Hospital project. We are hugely grateful for their commitment and enthusiasm. Sarah (in pink, with fellow Champions Amanda and Jo at Cambridgeshire County Day) gives a round up of what it's been like working on the project.
The Cambridge Children’s co-production community engine appears to run on a brand of fuel called 'mutual support’!
The recent RIBA3 design sessions have shown just how important the co-production voice is. Nothing beats real life experience in a hospital setting when considering the needs of the patient and their wider family/care group. Some of the discussions have been emotionally triggering owing to previous experiences. However, these exact experiences add to the passion of the parent voice in getting the design right for the future.
Seeing positive changes to the design following the engagement sessions is a measure of collaborative progress for the team.
Being part of the wider project team and taking part in events such as Cambridgeshire County Day helps to embed co-production into the project and raise the profile of the parent voice.
The Co-production Champions have enthusiastically attended countless online meetings looking at various aspects of the Cambridge Children’s Hospital, from food, digital and education to integrated models of care and wellbeing, helping to deliver the best holistic design and care possible.
As the project moves forwards from the Outline Business Case, the role of co-production also progresses and evolves to allow creative use of the skills and experiences the Champions collectively bring to the project.
Events
Westminster
In November, we were joined by MPs, peers, industry partners, clinicians and researchers for an event at the House of Commons. Two of our young ambassadors, Alisha and Sarah, spoke about their experiences of mental and physical healthcare and their hopes for the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital. They did an amazing job!
Sarah and Alisha prepare to present to MPs
Sarah and Alisha prepare to present to MPs
We gave an insight into personalised NHS healthcare, our work around precision medicine and our exciting plans for the first dedicated children’s hospital for the East of England, and the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
Roland Sinker, CEO of Addenbrooke's Hospital, presents to MPs and peers
Roland Sinker, CEO of Addenbrooke's Hospital, presents to MPs and peers
RAREfest
Cambridge Rare Disease Network invited us to join their fantastic festival of interactive exhibits, talks and visionary technology from the world of science and innovation, bringing information and hope to those affected by rare conditions.
The CUH Arts team and artist Hilary Cox Condron co-designed an inclusive art activity with three parents of children with rare diseases. Children and young people loved building a ‘Dream Den’, themed around ‘What makes you feel safe and welcome in hospital?’ There were some brilliant ideas, lots of fun making plasticine models and exploration with different materials! While the children got creative, our team chatted with families, students and academics.
Our 'Dream Den' inspired children and young people to think about what would make them feel safe and welcome at the new hospital
Our 'Dream Den' inspired children and young people to think about what would make them feel safe and welcome at the new hospital
Presents Galore
Cambridge Children’s Hospital was one of the beneficiary charities at Presents Galore, East Anglia’s biggest Christmas fair. We had a wonderful time selling festive cards, raffle tickets and talking to people about our plans and vision. We are incredibly grateful to have been involved in, and benefited from, such a vibrant festive event.
Niall's story
On December 24th 2018, six-year-old Niall from Wisbech was diagnosed with cancer. His parents drove him home that evening determined that Christmas would continue as normal for their four children. Niall started chemotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital on New Year's Eve. His mum Claire welcomes the news that the region’s first dedicated children’s hospital will be built in Cambridge, a place she trusts to provide excellent care. Read more about Niall's journey.
Niall with his family, celebrating the end of his treatment
Niall with his family, celebrating the end of his treatment
People across the East of England have taken part in a video to share their excitement about the region's new specialist children's hospital.
Join them and sign our pledge
Please do follow us on Twitter and Facebook @CambChildrens. Visit our website www.cambridgechildrens.org.uk
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