CHILDREN being treated for cancer are benefiting from the latest donations made thanks to a young Gourock woman and her friend.
The Schiehallion Unit at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow has received five high-back chairs for the treatment of day care patients, through the efforts of former patients Molly Cuddihy and her friend Sara Millar.
They have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to boost facilities at the unit and elsewhere in the hospital.
Schiehallion Day Care had already benefited from the installation of seven purpose-built reclining chairs for the unit’s bed bays, as well as new chairs, coffee makers and other equipment for the staff break room.
The Schiehallion Ward and Schiehallion Day Care, which treat children with cancer as inpatients or day care patients, were reopened in spring last year following a major refurbishment, and Molly and Sara have been instrumental in helping to provide the best possible environment for the young patients, staff and relatives/carers.
Susan McFarlane, senior charge nurse at Schiehallion Day Care, said: “These new chairs will make a make a real difference to the comfort of our patients, and their relatives.
“They’re just the latest in a long line of fantastic donations to the whole Schiehallion Unit, and I’d like to thank Molly and Sara, and their families and fellow fund-raisers, for everything they’ve done.”
Jamie Redfern, director of women’s and children’s services at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “The work Molly and Sara continue to do for the Schiehallion Unit, and for the whole hospital, is of huge value to all the patients, their relatives or carers and our staff.
“On behalf of everyone across NHSGGC, I would like to thank them and their families for their hard work, generosity and support. They will always have a special place at the RHC.
“Now that Molly and Sara have completed their current work at the Schiehallion Unit, their next project focuses on the paediatric intensive care unit at the hospital, so I will look forward to further collaborations to help us provide the highest quality care and facilities.”
The pair’s biggest achievement was the creation of a new chill-out room for inpatients aged eight to 12 years, giving them a purpose-built space to relax, watch TV and chat with other people their age, when they are able.
The room was the idea of Molly and Sara, who noticed during their own treatment that, while younger children and teenagers had spaces to play and socialise, no such facility existed for those aged eight to 12. So the pair launched their fund-raising campaign and, during the refurbishment project, the new chill-out space was installed.
The new eight to 12 room was an instant hit with young patients, and it has become a popular and valuable place for them to go to unwind and take their mind off their treatments.
