Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales explained

Children's Hospital for Wales
Org/Group:Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Location:Heath
Region:Cardiff
Country:Wales
Healthcare:NHS
Type:Children's hospital
Speciality:Paediatrics
Emergency:Yes
Affiliation:Cardiff University
Beds:179
Founded:2005
Map Type:Wales Cardiff
Coordinates:51.485°N -3.162°W
Helipad:Yes, in UHW

The Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales (Welsh: Ysbyty Arch Noa Plant Cymru) is a children's hospital in Cardiff, Wales. It is situated on the site of the University Hospital of Wales in the Heath area of the city and is managed by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

History

The first phase of the hospital was financed by from funds raised by the Noah's Ark Appeal, which had been founded in May 2000, together with some support from the Welsh Assembly Government.[1] The appeal patrons included Dame Shirley Bassey, who was born in Cardiff, Charlotte Church and Catherine Zeta-Jones.[1] The first phase, which was designed by Boyes Rees and built by Laing O'Rourke at a cost of £10 million,[2] was officially opened by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas in June 2006.[3]

In November 2007 Edwina Hart AM, the Health Minister of Wales, announced that the Welsh Assembly Government would fund that part of the capital costs for the second phase of the hospital which was not already being financed by the three local health boards and Health Commission Wales.[4]

In June 2010 the playrooms at the hospital were restocked with new toys by city department store John Lewis after the South Wales Echo reported that the theft of toys threatened a playroom with closure.[5]

Zeta-Jones and Douglas returned to the hospital to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the launch of the fundraising campaign in July 2010.[6] Zeta-Jones announced in November 2012 that the hospital would become known as the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales.[7]

The second phase of the hospital, which was designed by Boyes Rees and built by Interserve at a cost of £64 million,[8] was opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones in May 2015.[9] New facilities included five operating theatres, the new paediatric intensive care unit, a new hydrotherapy pool, and an "open" MRI scanner.[9] The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, as well as doctors at the hospital, have described the new facilities as "world class".[10] In 2017, a play garden also opened in the second phase building.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dame Shirley Bassey road sign is misspelt (in Welsh). The Telegraph. 8 June 2015. 22 February 2019.
  2. Web site: Children's Hospital for Wales. Hospital Management. 22 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Zeta brings glamour to hospital opening. 3 June 2006. Wales Online. 22 February 2019.
  4. Web site: Children's Hospital's new phase hope. Wales Online. 6 November 2007. 22 February 2019.
  5. Web site: Sick children can play again after city store's toys gift. Wales Online. 23 June 2010. 22 February 2019.
  6. Web site: Zeta-Jones visits Wales' children's hospital. Wales Online . 23 July 2010. 22 February 2019.
  7. Web site: Catherine Zeta Jones renames Children's Hospital for Wales. BBC. 9 November 2012. 22 February 2019.
  8. Web site: Design and construction post project evaluation of the Children's Hospital for Wales Phase 2. 14. 1 November 2015. Designed for Life. 22 February 2019.
  9. Web site: £64m children's hospital of Wales expansion opens in Cardiff. 15 May 2015. BBC. 22 February 2019.
  10. Web site: WalesOnline. 2015-05-15. How the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital is now a 'world class centre' for Wales. 2020-08-31. WalesOnline.
  11. News: Clarke. Owain. 2017-03-17. Children's hospital play garden opens. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-08-31.