£6.5m children’s theatres to be built at NNUH

Building work begins next week at the Norfolk and Norwich University NHS Foundation Trust on a £6.5m dedicated children’s theatre complex.

Due to be completed over two phases, in phase one we will provide a twin paediatric theatre suite, a six-bay recovery unit, as well as associated supporting facilities. The unit will also be fitted out with new clinical equipment to contemporary standards. Combined with the new facilities this will create a high standard of children’s surgical capacity to meet the needs of NNUH younger patients, both now, and well into the future. 

Next week early works will be carried out to prepare the site for development starting with cordoning off the area. Demolition and site clearance work will begin the following week commencing Monday 15 February.

The complex will help meet increasing demand on services and deliver an improved experience to patients and carers, including a reduction in waiting times. It will also improve staff experience by enabling them to offer new services in a purpose-built environment for children, which will serve the Norfolk and Waveney community well into the future.

Emma Jarvis Environment manager said: “This is a very exciting project for NNUH. The environment we are creating will be more colourful, relaxing and aimed at putting children and their families at ease. We will be inviting patients, their families and staff groups to give us their ideas on the final look of the complex.”

Project manager Ray McFee added: “The equipment and environment will be specific and designed around our children and young people, as we aim to provide an environment staff can feel proud to work in as an integral part of the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital.”

Construction of the twin-theatre development is phase one of a two-phased ambition to deliver a three-theatre complex, with associated recovery and a Children’s Day Procedure Unit (DPU). 

NNUH Women and Children’s Operational Director, Laura Schaffer said: “We are thrilled to start work on the creation of this new Children’s Theatre Complex within Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital at NNUH. It will benefit our patients greatly by improving their environment and ensuring we have dedicated capacity for our children’s surgery. This is the start of a number of exciting developments for Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital, as we work to cement our status as a major children’s centre for the region.” 

Laura added: ““This project has been a real team effort, and so many people across Anaesthetics, Theatres, Women and Children’s and Surgery have come together to create what will be a fantastic facility for JLCH and NNUH. We’d like to express our thanks to all for helping us get to this point – and especially to the Project Group who all gave so much time to helping finalise the designs and equipment schedule, you have all been invaluable.”