Transforming Jungle Ward
into a brighter, more welcoming
space for children and families
Thanks to your generosity, the transformation of Jungle Ward is finally underway!
Jungle Ward is one of the children’s hospital’s six inpatient wards. Among the patients cared for on the unit are children and young people with complex medical needs and those recovering from brain injuries. Stays on Jungle Ward can be long and often challenging, which is why, five years ago we launched an appeal to raise £1million. Our aim, with your support, was to create a space that is bright, welcoming and designed specifically around the needs of the children and families cared for there. The project was delayed by the pandemic, but we’re delighted to say that work is now in progress, and is due to complete before Christmas. The new Jungle Ward will include a new accessible playroom, brighter patient rooms, facilities for parents and carers and a therapy space for on-ward rehabilitation. It will also include a brand new specialised area to ‘step down’ patients from paediatric intensive care.
It’s your support that makes all this possible. Together, we are creating a ward where children can receive the very best care in an environment that supports both their recovery and their wellbeing.
“A welcoming, child-friendly environment can make an enormous difference to a child’s experience in hospital and to their recovery. This is opportunity to transform care for some of our most vulnerable patients.”
Samuel Barrett, Deputy Director of Operations, Children and Woman’s Clinical Board
Before the transformation
The parent kitchen before renovation began.
The old Jungle Ward playroom will be replaced with a designated therapy space.
The new disabled bathroom will be a fun, soothing space complete with a new disabled bath and hoist.
The old entrance to Jungle Ward.
Corridors on the new Jungle Ward will be transformed by specially commissioned wall art.
Due to a lack of natural light, the corridor could often feel dark.
After the refurbishment, the ward will contain bedrooms where children can undergo sleep studies.
Wellbeing through art
Our surroundings have a big impact on the way we think and feel. Art in a hospital environment has been proven to ease anxiety, increase moral and improve the overall care experience for both patients and families. That’s why, when it came to designing the new ward, artwork was an important consideration.
And what better place to start when considering how the ward should look and feel than with the children themselves. During the winter and spring, we held consultation sessions with Noah’s Ark patients both past and present and their feedback was invaluable.
During the summer, our talented Welsh artist, Suzanne Carpenter, has been bringing the children’s ideas to life, also taking into consideration the function of each specific space. While for example, designs for sleeping areas are comforting and soothing, designs for the corridor space are more fun and interactive, offering small children the opportunity to play ‘spot the tiger’ or ‘count the bugs’.
During the summer, our talented Welsh artist, Suzanne Carpenter, has been bringing the children’s ideas to life, also taking into consideration the function of each specific space. While for example, designs for sleeping areas are comforting and soothing, designs for the corridor space are more fun and interactive, offering small children the opportunity to play ‘spot the tiger’ or ‘count the bugs’.
Work in progress
It’s the second week in October and the ward is already taking shape. The old dark floors have been taken up, panels along the corridor have been installed, and the tiny parent kitchen has been knocked through to create a much bigger space. The footprint for a brand new playroom has been created, while the old play area is ready to be transformed into an on-ward therapy space.
The new playroom
The parent room
Therapy room
Bedroom for neuro rehab patient
Treatment room
Corridor
Sleep study room
Corridor
Carer's Room
Corridor
Therapies
Treatment Room
Playroom
Bathroom
Bathroom
Bathroom
We’ll be back to update this page on the renovation progress as it evolves so come back and visit the page soon.
Every step of this journey is made possible thanks to the generosity of people like you. Thank you for helping us create a brighter, more nurturing environment for the children of Jungle Ward.
