NHS Lothian Charity Celebrates The Opening Of The New Royal Hospital For Children And Young People

NHS Lothian Charity, was delighted to welcome the remaining children’s services staff to their new home at Little France today. With many staff saying a final fond farewell to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Sciennes, the charity wanted to mark the move to the new hospital with a welcome gift of commemorative mugs, featuring some images from the pioneering Art and Therapeutic Design Programme that they had co-funded as part of the new building design.*

Over 20 projects, involving 30 different artists, were commissioned to enhance the interior and exterior spaces throughout the building, finding innovative and creative ways to improve arrival and wayfinding, enliven the hospital environment and tailor the design of spaces to reduce anxiety. The programme, which includes bespoke sculpture, illustration, film, animation, furniture and interior design, kept patients and staff at the very centre of the design process.

Susan Grant, Tonic Arts Manager for NHS Lothian Charity said:

“We are really privileged to have been involved in this project, not just by providing funding through the charity but with involvement throughout the entire process. It really demonstrates the importance that NHS Lothian has placed on arts in healthcare, recognising the positive impacts of well designed spaces on patient, staff and visitor wellbeing. The diverse and stunning art and design commissions really bring to life the humanity of the hospital and the people who are in it.

“Staff are very excited about the move, but for some it has also been quite poignant; they will have seen the worst of times and the best of times within those old sandstone walls. We therefore wanted to mark the occasion in some way and celebrate the move to the new hospital and the start of this new chapter. We have asked staff to let us know how they are settling in by sending ‘mugshots’ of them discovering and exploring the hospital art and finding its many delights and distractions.”

Radiographers Seonad Young and Zowie Mullen said:

“This is a brilliant welcome to our beautiful new hospital! The artworks are a fantastic distraction, reflecting our past as well as our future.”