Hello everyone
I’m delighted to once again be guest blogger while Kevin, our Chief Executive, is away on holiday.
It may not feel like it some days, with the grey skies and chilly winds but 20 March was the Spring equinox. From Wednesday the days began to get longer and the nights shorter, bringing with them the promise of sunshine and better weather.
We can often forget how important it is to spend time outside when it is within our power to do so. When you are a patient in hospital it becomes difficult. And for children this can be become a bit of a frustration, for them and their parents. Sometime children, poorly or well, just need to get outside, sit in the sunshine and feel the air on their faces. This week we made that happen for the patients on our Children’s unit on the Blackburn Teaching Hospital Site when we officially opened the Children’s Play Area.
The idea came about after I visited the unit and asked the ward staff what I could do to help them make the children’s stay better. Access to fresh air seemed a simple ask, but one that has taken lots of planning, many hands, and the generosity of our corporate sponsors the EG Group, local businesses and individuals. Many, many thanks to them all, not least our very own Estates and Facilities team.
The opening of the Children’s play area has provided a little haven of normality for our young patients, many of whom are regular visitors to the ward. It has been thoughtfully designed to cater for all ages, with areas to eat outdoors, to sit and chat or have fun on the bikes and trikes.
The first patient to visit the play area was a very special young lady, Tia Taggart, who recently celebrated her tenth birthday on the ward. Not only was Tia a VIP guest to the opening but she also received a birthday visit from Firefighters Laura Hardman and Stephen Selby from the Padiham branch of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. Thank you Laura and Stephen for taking time out and making Tia’s day.
We try our best to accommodate families’ requests, and we also try to help external businesses and services to show their thanks and appreciation. As Easter approaches we know we will be inundated with the offer of chocolatey treats from grateful families, friends and companies. This is of course a wonderful gesture but it is unfortunate that many of the children on the wards are unable to eat the treats because of dietary or medical reasons. So this year we are asking people to consider an alternative donation. Bunny Money – instead of buying chocolate eggs, consider donating the equivalent in money to offer activities and entertainment, toys, crafts and activities that everyone can enjoy. This generous Easter gift will help us bring smiles across the Easter season and beyond. So be a good egg (sorry!) and go to the Charity’s JustGiving page to donate.
This week also included International Day of Happiness, with the theme this year of Happier Together. I think this perfectly describes ELHT, our partner organisations and the community we all serve. I am reminded of Edward Everett Hale, a clergyman who died over a hundred years ago, who said “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for reading.
Chris Pearson
Director of Nursing