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The outdoor park and play therapist

Posted By lepuswh84

"The outdoor park and play therapist"

About: Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) / Paediatrics

(as a parent/guardian),

I was really saddened to see the play park area outside the tower building at Treliske has gone to make way for building space.

My son, who has a lifelong health condition, had cause to use the play therapists due to a needle phobia.  The therapist (Gill) was amazing, taking him in the park, riding around on scooters with him and really making him feel at ease before he had to go back inside to have a canula put in for bloods.  To this date he still remembers the fun and kindness of this therapist.  Such a shame this park has gone - childrens mental health should come before any new office building!

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Responses

Response from Carolyn Garman, Communications Lead: Strategic Estates Team, Estates, RCHT 3 years ago
Carolyn Garman
Communications Lead: Strategic Estates Team, Estates,
RCHT

Submitted on 22/09/2021 at 10:00
Published on Care Opinion at 10:00

Dear Lepuswh84

Thank you for taking the time to write a story on Care Opinion. We always value feedback at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust. I am responding to your story as I am the Communications and Engagement lead within the Strategic Estates team (and this team is responsible for all the big builds currently taking place on the Treliske site).

There is a long-term investment and development plan to re-configure and update the hospital, resulting in a brand new Women and Children’s Hospital that will be located between the Tower Block and the Emergency Department. When built, it will replace the current Princess Alexandra Wing which is no longer fit for purpose. In preparation, we have had to commence construction of the “Progressive Recovery Unit” (PRU) in the area between the Tower Block and Princess Alexandra Wing in order to “decant” some of our existing wards and services which will need to make way.

We agree that any loss of green space and play areas in a hospital environment, is unwelcome and it was a difficult decision to remove the play garden that previously existed in order to make way for the PRU. We are pleased to let you know however, that provision has been made for a brand new “Play 4 Life Garden” within our overall plans for the new Women and Children’s Hospital. Funding and planning are already in place, and work is planned to begin in January 2022. It will be sited behind the current Princess Alexandra Wing, just a short walk from the Tower Block and will provide a safe and secure haven for children and families. With further fundraising and the help of students from Cornwall College, we also hope there will be many stimulating and fun elements for all children receiving treatment and/or visiting the hospital to enjoy. We have been guided on the plans throughout the design process by the play specialists and clinicians at the hospital alongside our grounds and gardens team.

If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch by emailing rcht.buildingbrilliance@nhs.net

Carolyn Garman
Communications & Engagement Lead, Strategic Estates
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

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