Olympic Gold medallist, Lord Sebastian Coe, was the guest of honour at the grand opening of Great Ormond Street Hospital’s new Morgan Stanley Clinical Building last week.
The first phase in the development of the Mittal Children’s Medical Centre, the clinical building includes the British Kidney Patient Association Children’s Kidney Centre, Wolfson Heart and Lung Centre and J N and Phyllis Somers Neurosciences Centre as well as a hybrid angiography suite, three state-of-the-art operating theatres for patients requiring cardiac or neuro surgery, and new diagnostic facilities. Wards have more space compared to existing facilities and are equipped with en-suite bathrooms, providing more privacy and comfort for patients and their families. There is also a new restaurant for staff and families.
The revamp of the hospital will ensure patients receive world-class care in 21st-century facilities and which will enable the hospital to treat up to 20% more children and advance pioneering translational research programmes.
Lord Coe was joined at the ribbon-cutting ceremony by fellow gold medallist and Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. He said: “I was delighted to accept the invitation to open Great Ormond Street Hospital’s new clinical building. The hospital is recognised internationally as a centre of excellence and the clinical and surgical teams are among the best in the world. Every day they strive for excellence, but just like the best sportsmen and women, they need the best equipment and best facilities if they are to reach their full potential. This morning I have met children on one of the new wards and have been left in no doubt that these new facilities and operating theatres will help to give children the very best chance possible.”
The Morgan Stanley Clinical Building was funded through donations and grants from thousands of organisations and individuals. Among those were the Department of Health, which provided £75m towards the development; and The Barclay Foundation, The Bunting Family, Channel 4’s Comedy Gala, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, The Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust, and The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, which each donated in excess of £1m.
In addition, The Walt Disney Company has provided a new play area designed specifically with the patients’ needs in mind, where children can relax and engage in a range of fun interactive zones featuring popular Disney’s characters.
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is now focused on raising £45m to complete the medical centre, including the redevelopment of the cardiac wing of the hospital.
Dr Jane Collins, chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: “Today is a very important day for Great Ormond Street Hospital as it marks an important step forward in our plans to provide world-class facilities to our patients. We are so grateful to all our supporters who have made this day possible. Thanks to their generosity we are now able to provide our world-class care to patients with cardiac, renal and neurological conditions in more comfortable, spacious and appropriate facilities, offering the dignity and privacy the children and their families deserve.
- Companies:
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
- Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation
