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Together will build the first East of England children’s hospital

08/06/2026

"The new diagnosis of a brain tumour for a child is a really impactful diagnosis for the whole family. It's such a shock. Often it comes after weeks of concern and worry about what the cause of particular symptoms may be, so typically we're faced with a family that's in pieces." - Ibrahim Jalloh

Over the last week, we've been talking about how Cambridge Children's Hospital will wrap care around the whole family, not just the child who is unwell. It's World Brain Tumour Day, so we caught up with Ibrahim Jalloh, a Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital, about the importance of supporting parents, carers, siblings and other loved ones.

He says hospital spaces play a big part in this holistic approach to care, from quiet rooms for those difficult conversations to child-friendly MRI scanners and operating theatres, as well as lush gardens to support rehabilitation. The new Cambridge Children's Hospital will have ALL of these, because it's been designed for children, their families, and the staff that care for them.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

05/06/2026

When a child experiences something that completely changes the course of their life, the ripple effect is felt across the whole family and wider care networks. Not just for a week or a month, but years.

Kate Gravett's eldest child suffered an acute traumatic brain injury in a road accident on his first day of secondary school. As part of our 'Wrapping Around the Family' campaign, she explains why emotional and psychological support for families cannot be treated as an afterthought, because "if the family unit is falling apart emotionally, psychologically or financially, the child feels that too." She says a well supported family creates a strong foundation for the child and that, in turn, aids recovery. Read Kate's blog about her family's experience > https://orlo.uk/NGVni

We are grateful to Kate and her family for sharing their story. Kate is one of our Parent Advocates, supporting the development of Cambridge Children's Hospital through lived experience. Cambridge Children's Hospital - the first specialist children's hospital for the East of England - will approach care holistically, supporting the whole child and their whole family.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

03/06/2026

Cambridge Children's Hospital will care for children and young people with acute mental health challenges who need inpatient care. As part of our 'Wrapping around the family' campaign, we spoke to Sam Collins-Shirley from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust Darwin Centre for Young People about the impact of a mental health diagnosis on a young person's whole family and their wider support network. The new hospital will treat mental and physical health together under one roof, which will mean the required healthcare professionals can come to the patient's room, rather than the patient having to go elsewhere. Spaces within the building have been designed to support our holistic approach to care, including outdoor spaces on every ward and quiet rooms for rest, reflection and conversation.

“Parents say it’s overwhelming and emotional when their child is first admitted to a mental health unit. At Cambridge Children’s Hospital, there will be safe, quiet spaces for them to spend time with their child. They will be comforted to know their young person will be treated for their physical and mental health on the same site, avoiding stressful trips between hospitals. Having all the professionals in one place will make it easier for parents to access information and be more involved in their child’s care.” - Sam Collins-Shirley, Head of Patient and Parent Involvement (HOPPI), Darwin Centre for Young People.

01/06/2026

🏥Our vision is that Cambridge Children’s Hospital provides wrap-around care for the whole family, when they need it most.

⭐The design of our building and our model of care will support a holistic approach that leads to better outcomes for our patients and their loved ones.

🫶Over the next few weeks we will share more about what a ‘whole child’ and ‘whole family’ approach looks like at Cambridge Children’s Hospital.

29/05/2026

🥳A huge thank you to the amazing group of trekkers who have raised £40,688 to support Cambridge Children's Hospital and the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital through their Great Wall of China expedition!🫶

28/05/2026

Did you know that Cambridge Children's Hospital will host a world-class research institute?👀

The Cambridge Children's Research Institute will enable collaboration with our staff, patients, and their families to find solutions and develop new approaches for some of the most significant health care challenges facing children across the UK.

Located across the ground and lower floor in the new hospital, with a mezzanine for visitors to observe the labs, research will be central to the Cambridge Children's Hospital vision.

26/05/2026

We were delighted to welcome eight Deputy Lieutenants from Hertfordshire, Led by Viscountess Knutsford, to the Cambridge Children's Hospital site, to meet clinical and project staff to learn about the progress of the hospital’s plans and its unique vision of care.
Cambridge Children’s Hospital will bring specialist care closer to home for patients and families across the whole of the East of England, giving them better, more equitable access to the care they need – with less time away from school, home and community.

20/05/2026

Every few months, we deliver colourful information posters to and paediatric wards and services that will move into the new hospital when it opens.

It's a great chance to chat to staff, answer their questions and be reminded of the incredible work happening at the Ida Darwin site in Fulbourn and at Addenbrooke's Hospital. This visit was made extra magical when we ran into the team who were visiting the children's wards with a harpist and a shadow puppet show! We also had a peek at a newly renovated playroom funded by one of our campaign partners

19/05/2026

Research solely dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people is central to the vision of Cambridge Children's Hospital. This is why - on World IBD Day - we are excited to share this beautiful short film created by gastro research nurse Kelly in the Cambridge Centre for Children's Gut Health - CUH team. She goes behind the scenes with Eva, a researcher whose work focuses on Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It's a fascinating insight into the work Eva does, with kindness, compassion and determination.

Last year, another gastro research nurse, Claire, took part in our Cambridge Children's Hospital Frontrunners programme, where NHS staff have the opportunity to create meaningful change in their current services, while thinking ahead to the future hospital. Claire's project focused on how to better communicate the importance of research to children and families - and get them involved.

Great work, team!

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Crohn's & Colitis UK
CICRA - Better lives for children with Crohns and Colitis

13/05/2026

We are so excited about a new short film that's being released on World IBD Day next week. Called “Understanding IBD: A researcher's journey”, it is a beautiful and heartfelt mini documentary featuring Eva who works in Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease research. It was filmed and produced by Kelly, one of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Children's Gut Health research nurses, who has the unique perspective of working within this field whilst also having IBD herself.

Chronic conditions like IBD affect physical health but also have a huge impact on children and young people's mental health. Cambridge Children's Hospital will treat physical and mental health together under one roof, alongside world-leading research. A holistic approach - from day one.

If you’re not already, follow CUH Children's Gut Health on Facebook so you don’t miss the mini documentary when it premieres in full on May 19th .

CICRA - Better lives for children with Crohns and Colitis
Crohn's & Colitis UK

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