Cool room at Grimsby's hospital is just the tonic for youngsters

PATIENTS and staff have welcomed the tonic of a new-look ward at Grimsby's hospital.

They are now "well chilled" thanks to a new room designed to provide entertainment for adolescents.

The "chill out" room in The Rainforest wWard, in the Family Services department, has a widescreen TV, pool table and games.

There are also improved bathroom and shower facilities in the 21-bed ward.

It was officially opened by the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Karen Jackson. She said the improvements had cost around £260,000 and took about 16 weeks to complete.

She said: "The improvements that we have made are significant.

"It is impressive how they have managed to re-configure the space available. A chill-out space for the teenagers is ideal and the new bathroom facilities enable staff to look after patients with their special needs. Thank you to the staff for their support."

Staff on the ward treat patients from birth to 16 years. Dr Bemigho Etuwene, the ward's clinical director, said the hospital is accredited as a cancer treatment centre so when young patients return from specialist centres such as Sheffield Children's Hospital, they can be treated nearer to home in Grimsby.

It serves patients, predominantly from North East Lincolnshire, but also from northern Lincolnshire and the Scunthorpe area.

General manager Claire Phillips said the ward had a dedicated team of nurses and play specialists. She said: "Having experienced it recently myself with my son, I have seen how good it is."

Patient Katie Anderson-Coll, 5, of Cleethorpes, who would like to be a paediatric nurse when she is older, is being treated for epilepsy.

She said: "I have lots of fun here. I have been gluing and sticking as well as some painting. The play nurse let me do lots of paintings and they were put up in the ward, like a gallery. I painted my mum's face and she said she looked like Shrek. I will do another one of her and one of bunny rabbit Clover. When I am better I will be able to go and play in the play area outside with the swings and slide."