As the second oldest children’s hospital in the country Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital celebrates its 167th birthday on 3 April during what promises to be a special year for the hospital.
This year will see £6.5m invested in the first phase of a new three-theatre complex to meet the demand of treating the county’s youngest patients now and in the future.
Work on the new unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has already started with the first phase seeing the creation of a twin paediatric theatre suite, a six-bay recovery unit and other associated works.
Designs for an improved Critical Care area within our Children’s Hospital are also being developed, with hopes to see work commence later this year.
The hospital cares for thousands of children each year, from the smallest babies in our NICU through to young people up to the age of 16, and older in some cases.
The charity is hugely grateful for the support of our fundraisers whose donations make a huge difference to the work we can do to enhance the support, care and treatment of our young patients and their families.
Just recently, the charity received almost £14,000 from Simon Kindleysides who raised money walking with his exoskeleton suit during the latest lockdown.
Despite being disabled, Simon walked 8,000 steps each day of February, through snow, rain, hail and sunshine and featured on national and international media.
NNUH Biomedical Support Worker and baker extraordinaire Reece Durrant has baked some fantastic cakes to celebrate Jenny Lind Day along with a video showing exactly how to recreate the celebration cakes.
And Serco Healthcare baked scones for some of our staff in the children’s hospital distributed by Senior Matron Emma Chapman (pictured below).
In today’s hospital, Buxton Ward treats over 3,500 young inpatients each year with a further 1,000 babies cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Staff on the Children’s Emergency Department care for in access of 24,000 children each year while around 48,000 children attend outpatient appointments.
Laura Schaffer, Divisional Operations Director for Women and Children, said: “This is a hugely exciting year for the Jenny Lind as we embark on our exciting expansion project. We hope you will all support us as we transform our environment for children and young people.
You can support the work of the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital by making a donation directly https://nnuh.enthuse.com/cf/jenny-lind-children-s-hospital
For more information about the work of the N&N Hospitals Charity, go to www.nnhospitalscharity.org.uk
Notes for editors: The Norwich infirmary for sick children admitted its first inpatients on 3 April 1854, two years after London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, and is the second oldest children’s hospital in the country.
The children’s hospital was created thanks to the generosity of Jenny Lind, dubbed the Swedish Nightingale, who was one of the best known and most popular entertainers in mid-19th century Europe.
In 1847 she gave her first concerts in Norwich and they proved so popular that a third concert was arranged with proceeds going to open an infirmary for sick children.
