Rainbow Ward has been reopened after it was temporarily converted for use by adults during the pandemic

From left, North Mid's deputy chief executive Bimal Patel; mother Lee Anne with her four kids; Rainbow Ward manager Clare Oliver — From left, North Mid’s deputy chief executive Bimal Patel; mother Lee Anne with her four kids; Rainbow Ward manager Clare Oliver

The children’s ward at North Middlesex University Hospital in Edmonton has undergone a transformation thanks to a multi-million pound investment.

Following a year-long project costing £5.7million, North Mid’s Rainbow Ward – dedicated to caring for babies, children and young people – has been completely refurbished and restored to allow better use of the space and more tailored care.

The new ward has total of 16 rooms, including four high-dependency rooms, six side rooms with two designated for children and young adults experiencing emotional, behavioural and mental health challenges, and three two-bedded bays.

Each room has en-suite toilet and shower facilities, pull-out bed for parents and guardians, and brand-new artwork, designed and developed with children and young people, each with new distinct themes – including cityscapes, tropics, jungle and space, adding to the ward’s child-friendly atmosphere.

The ward also now has a number of dedicated rooms, built for specific purposes, including a playroom, teenagers’ room, parents’ room and milk storage room.

The previous Rainbow Ward had to be reassigned to looking after adult patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. But following the refurbishment, it has been reinvigorated.

Clare Oliver, ward manager, said: “I have worked at North Mid for 27 years and there’s no greater feeling than being able to open our new children’s ward.

“It’s taken a huge effort from staff across North Mid, from our estates teams, our medical photography team, to our children’s services teams, and I want to thank each and every one of them for helping make this redevelopment a reality.

“Central to creating the new Rainbow Ward has been listening to patients and their families and really understanding what would make their experience here better, and I’m glad we have been able to put in place many of the things they have asked for.”

Lee Anne, mum of two sets of twin children who have been accessing the services at North Mid for eleven years, added: “The Rainbow Ward has been like a second home to myself and to my children who suffer from long term heath condition. Having the ward refurbished in the way it has, will be able to offer us a sense of comfort and security, knowing that we are safe and accessible.

“It really means a lot to us as a family, and I’m sure many other families will benefit from this new ward which has been designed with us in mind.”

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