Great North Run and RVI children's unit join forces

Jul 1 2009 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

“I hope the Great North Run’s support of the Great North Children’s Hospital will last long beyond our lifetimes – it’s a long-term plan and it just seemed an obvious choice.”

Sir Len Fenwick, chief executive of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the effect of the money would be to provide a hospital “over and above” people’s expectations.

“We’re so proud of the space, the quality of the facility which we are going to provide for the children of the North East and beyond,” he said.

“We now take referrals from Great Ormond Street Hospital and undertake work from the Republic of Ireland – that’s the reputation we’ve got. It matches the reputation and achievements of the Great North Run and we’re thrilled this is taking place.

“The hospital is a facility in the region, just like the Great North Run, that people can be justly proud of and will provide excellent standards of care for our young patients.”

The new hospital will feature a penthouse for teenage cancer patients and will have the capacity to accommodate 245 children at any one time.