Ambitious £1 million Appeal Launched

Raigmore Children's Ward Appeal Launched

AN ambitious £1 million fund-raising appeal to develop a new children’s ward at Raigmore Hospital has been launched.

The Inverness Courier has teamed up with The ARCHIE Foundation, an Aberdeen-based children’s charity, to transform the existing department into a world-class centre for sick children within two years.

The work will involve a radical redesign to create give a more co-ordinated and focused layout with a child-centred and family-friendly environment, improved facilities and new, more support for families and more cutting-edge equipment.

Individuals, organisations and businesses across the Highlands are being invited to get behind the appeal.

The initiative was sparked by leading Aberdeen-based paediatrician Professor George Youngson, who until recently was a visiting surgeon at Raigmore — the region’s largest hospital serving children and their families from all over the Highlands as well as the Western Isles.

The professor is also a trustee of the ARCHIE Foundation, which was set up 10 years ago to support the development of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital but has since expanded its work to support sick children and their families across the north of Scotland.

During visits to Inverness, the professor saw the difference in the facilities between Aberdeen and at Raigmore.

Although he feels Raigmore has exceptionally high quality staff and offers high quality care, he believes these are not matched by the environment — the ward layout, for instance, does not meet modern child care requirements while the busy outpatients area is cramped.

“Having come from a specialist unit which is very well served, I wondered if it would not be right to bring some of that energy and spirit from what has been a very successful charity and share that with Raigmore and the children of the Highlands,” he explained.

For the past year, the ARCHIE Foundation has been in talks with NHS Highland about how the ward can be transformed. As more detailed plans are developed, the views and ideas of staff, patients and parents will also be sought.

Professor Youngson stressed that while the NHS exists to provide care, ARCHIE is there to make a difference for sick children. “What is clear is the NHS does provide staff. It provides core equipment. It provides medication, drugs and operating theatres,” he said.

“It is a hugely expensive service. It provides for lots and lots of needs but I am afraid in the current situation, it cannot achieve the total care for everyone in every way.”

David Sutherland, the Inverness-based chief executive of Tulloch Homes, has agreed to chair the appeal committee, having had personal experience of the difference ARCHIE makes. At just one week old, his grandson underwent surgery at the Aberdeen Royal Children’s Hospital.

“The children’s ward here in Raigmore is a loving and professional place,” he said.

“It has everything the NHS should and do provide in a children’s ward. “Unfortunately, however, it lacks many of the specialist people, the fantastic ‘children-of-all ages’ child-friendly environment, the specialist equipment and of course, the extensive support for families that the ARCHIE Foundation provides.”

Robert Taylor, editor of The Inverness Courier, hopes the appeal will capture the imagination of people across the region.

“We want to make Raigmore’s children’s department a centre of excellence with facilities on a par or better than anywhere in Scotland,” he said. “As well as the best equipment, we intend to make it easier for parents to stay with their children and provide an environment in which youngsters feel comfortable, which in turn can help their recovery.

“Every donation, from the smallest to the largest, is equally welcome and the paper will be publicising events and recognising the efforts of those raising cash.”

The chief executive of Tulloch Homes David Sutherland has agreed to chair the appeal committee, having had personal experience of the difference ARCHIE makes. At just one week old, his grandson underwent surgery at the Royal Aberdeen’s Children’s Hospital.

“The children’s ward here in Raigmore is a loving and professional place,” he said.

“It has everything the NHS should and do provide in a children’s ward. Unfortunately, however, it lacks the fantastic child-friendly environment, the specialist equipment and of course, the extensive support for families that the ARCHIE Foundation provides.”

NHS Highland chairman Garry Coutts is fully behind the appeal.welcomed the ARCHIE Foundation’s involvement at Raigmore.

“I am incredibly proud of the work already being done by the staff in the ward and know that they are absolutely committed to making their patients as comfortable as possible,” he said.

“The work the ARCHIE Foundation are going to take forward will build on that further. By involving staff, patients, parents and carers from the beginning I know the end result will transform the ward and enhance the patient experience.”