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Burns Unit Upgrade
Burns Unit at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children receives £145,000 upgrade
Funds donated by the hospital's charity partner, the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, and the City Fire Fund, were used to transform patient treatment rooms and upgrade toilet facilities in the hospital's ward three.
A disabled toilet, shower and bathroom, with a specialist state-of-the-art bath - which can be used for changing dressings on children with burns - has also been installed as part of the upgrade.
Paulene Emsley, tissue viability nurse, at the hospital said: "The new facilities have made a real difference to patients. The treatment room and bath are now side by side making the process of changing dressings for burns patients quicker, easier and less stressful for patients.
"The whole ward has benefited from the refurbishment and I know the feedback from patients, their families and staff has been very positive. I would like to thank the City Fire Fund and SKFF for their donations."
The ward three transformation is part of NHS Lothian's wider refurbishment programme and has also provided new playroom facilities for the young patients.
Donations
As part of the makeover, wall stickers, donated as a Christmas gift by the Herbert family from Corstorphine, have also been added to the ward to complement the new décor.
Little Sophie Herbert was treated at the hospital for cleft lip and palate and over the last two year's the family, with help from their friends, have raised more than £2,500 for SKFF.
Sophie's mum, Gilly, said: "The wall stickers we donated to the hospital look great, I love the mermaid and pirates theme. With all the amazing changes recently they have really helped brighten up the burns unit ward."
The Sick Kids Friends Foundation raised £58,000 to help pay for the upgrade, including £25,000 donated by the City Fire Fund, which was created in 1824 to provide funding for the victims of burns and injured firefighters. NHS Lothian contributed £87,000 to complete the refurbishment.
Improved facilities
Councillor Tim McKay said: ''The Trustees of the City Fire Fund are delighted to have been involved in funding this work which has made a huge improvement to the facilities for children being treated for burns.
"While the bath will be an enormous help for dressing changes the playroom will help distract children from any discomfort they may be feeling. When the City Fire Fund was set up in 1824 it was to provide funding to help fire-fighters and people injured in fires.
"The new facilities combined with the excellent skills of the nurses and doctors in Ward three will do just that.''
Maureen Harrison, Chief Executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, added: "A lot of hard work has gone into the upgrade of the burns unit and we are delighted with the finished result.
"The team involved has done a fantastic job and I would like the thank everyone who helped raise funds for this important project."
