Coronavirus puts major projects in jeopardy at Sheffield Children's Hospital

Major projects at a children's hospital including a new emergency department and cancer ward have been put in jeopardy by coronavirus, a charity has said.

The charity which raises cash for Sheffield Children's Hospital says its fundraising is set to fall by £2.5 million due to the virus.

The hospital has major plans for projects including a complete renewal of its emergency department and a new cancer and leukaemia ward. It also plans to build a helipad on its roof, as seriously ill children arriving by air ambulance currently have to be transported across a busy road from a nearby public park.

The Children's Hospital Charity announced that the coronavirus pandemic has caused a significant fall in fundraising.

The charity's director, David Vernon-Edwards, said:

The charity's Building A Better Future appeal was launched two years ago as its biggest-ever appeal to transform Sheffield Children's by raising £14.25 million.

It has so far raised £5 million towards building a brand new Safeguarding Support Unit as well as the cancer and leukaemia ward, emergency department and helipad.

The pandemic has seen the postponement of major set-piece fundraising events as well as all the usual charity balls, bake sales and raffles which support the charity around the region.

The charity said the emergency department was built to see 32,000 children every year but now sees more than 58,000 from across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.

It launched a separate emergency Covid-19 appeal which raised £90,000, including a significant donation from golfer and The Children's Hospital Charity's patron, Matt Fitzpatrick.

During the lockdown, Sheffield Children's Hospital took on all emergency children's surgery to help support hospitals in South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire.