We are fundraising for the East and North Hertfordshire hospital charity - this page is to raise funds for new resources and facilities within the Children's Emergency Department (CED). This project will be lead by the CED nursing team who I am extremely proud of their commitment to their patients and families to continually improve our service through your feedback. 

Over the next year my nursing team will work, laugh, graft, swim, run, dance, fight to raise funds together as a team to promote and advocate that all children and young people who present to CED have the same access to services, resources, facilities and highly trained health and social professionals no matter the diagnosis or the circumstance.

We are made up of a team of 40 nurses and admin staff. One of our projects this year, within the CED, is to enhance and develop the services we give to our children and young people (CYP) presenting with mental health distress and our children with complex needs. 

In CED, we recognise our ability to give outstanding physical care - this means if your child presents in cardiac arrest you child will be cared for by highly trained and experienced staff, within a safe and well resourced clinical environment, ensuring we meet the needs of your child or young person compassionately. However, we also feel passionately that the emotional and psychological wellbeing of ALL children should be prioritised alongside physical health.

We have seen an increase in mental health distress and crisis presentations to the emergency department. These CYP present with suicidal thoughts, violence, overdose, self harm and emotional instability. We want to be able to provide a wellbeing room within CED to allow our service users and families to have a place of safety. Maintain dignity and respect. A place to feel whatever you are feeling safely, without causing further harm to yourself or others. 

This space will also be designed to support our CYP with complex needs. Our space will incorporate sensory stimulation through touch, music and light - adapted to promote relaxation and calm. This will be particular important for our CYP who find noise and busy environments challenging. For those who are feeling vulnerable, scared, anxious and overwhelmed. 

We deliver sad news in the children's ED. This room will be able to deliver a space for privacy, a space for thought and feeling to be processed. Sad news should never be delivered amongst the noise of children crying, the hustle of a busy waiting room, by the bed side or where others are able listen. 

This wellbeing/safe space room will be designed to be adaptable to our continuously changing environment and patient presentation. 

 There are 3 other elements to this project - which may continue to require your support as we receive your feedback on our service. 

1. Social Prescription health promotion bags for our young people regarding services, health advice, age appropriate distraction toys and equipment. 

2. Re-vamping our waiting room to include a young person corridor with toilet.  This will be re-decorated by local young  people who have a love for art and design. This area will provide space away from the toy play kitchen and CBeebies. We want to be creative in this space with technology and health and social promotion.

3. Mobile sensory units - to bring calm, relaxation and distraction to  children who are unable to leave bed, cot or room. 

The charity funds the purchase of new specialist equipment, extra staff training, research and projects to enhance patient experience.You make the difference! Donate today!

Thank you for your support to our service and your kind donation. 

Best Wishes 

Children's Emergency Department Team