Raising funds for the new children and young people’s emergency department at J.C.U.H

A highly talented local artist is raising funds for a wonderful cause.

Philip Meadows is an Eston born professional artist who usually sells his  great pieces of Middlesbrough Football Club themed  art through exhibitions and private galleries.

Now though, he has put his talents to work in a fabulous 2022 calendar with all proceeds going to make the new children’s and young people’s emergency department at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough a more child-friendly place.

The department will offer a number of specialist facilities including:

. Separate waiting areas for different age groups

. Dedicated observation, treatment and resuscitation rooms

. Mental health assessment room

. Sensory room

. Breastfeeding room

A snippet from the NHS South Tees website says :

“The new facility will provide emergency care to more than 25,000 patients a year covering all age ranges from neonates up to 18 years.

Currently, these young patients are treated in separate areas within the main emergency department, but from the end of April they will benefit from having their own dedicated facility.

Everything from the wall artwork to patient meals will be designed with children and young people in mind with families invited to contribute feedback and ideas via the trust’s internet site and social media channels.

Charitable funds are being used to provide those little extras over and above what the NHS can provide with local businesses and community groups encouraged to donate soft furnishings, toys, iPads and sensory room equipment and lighting.

Emergency department service manager Julie Suckling said: “This redevelopment will enable us to create patient-centred spaces, designed to deliver world-class care for some of our region’s most seriously ill children and young people. We aim to deliver leading-edge care in a modern and welcoming environment to make sure each patient’s journey through the department is as comfortable and as positive an experience as possible.” “

The money raised will be given to the hospitals charity, who will bring new Toys, murals, soft furnishings and other such items which will make a child’s traumatic visit as calming an event as can possibly be.

To support this, you can buy one of these wonderful calendars for £15 at The Art House, 353 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, or at the charity shop in James Cook University Hospital.