New hospital a bridge from research to clinic

The Tayside community and medical research is set to benefit from a major new children's hospital, formally opened early in the summer.

The £10 million Tayside Children's Hospital - a joint venture between the University and NHS Tayside - is a purpose-built facility that provides medical care for babies and children.

Rather than being faced with a bleak hospital façade, children at Tayside are greeted with bright colours and airy spaces. The new wards, neonatal unit and outpatient clinic are complemented by indoor and outdoor play areas and accommodation for their parents. A new paediatric operating theatre, research laboratories and offices have also been created.

The hospital has broken down the barriers between clinicians and researchers - no other children's hospital in Scotland has clinical and research facilities so closely integrated.

"Our big idea was to bring all of us working on children's health, researchers and clinicians, close together so that we can spark ideas off each other and help translate new research discoveries into new treatments," said Professor Richard Olver, Head of the Division of Maternal and Child Health Sciences in the School of Medicine.

"This state-of-the-art facility is going to be extremely valuable as we move ahead with a wide range of child-focussed research in Tayside, including research in diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, and disorders associated with prematurity."

This collaboration between doctors and researchers also means the children's treatment is better coordinated and their journey through their various medical treatments is more streamlined, resulting in improved patient care.

The hospital was opened by former rector, TV and radio personality Fred MacAulay, who was involved in the fundraising campaign for the hospital.

"I am thrilled to be helping with this advancement in children's medical care and it is fantastic to see the excellent new facilities that are being provided in the children's hospital," he said.

"As a parent myself, I hope that it gives comfort to other families to know that there's such a high quality, dedicated unit for their children should they ever need it."

University Principal Sir Alan Langlands also attended the opening and praised the new facility saying it would be of great value to children and families.

"As a University with a first class medical school embedded within Ninewells Hospital we are committed to translating the best research into care and treatments delivered to patients. The Tayside Children's Hospital is a very visible example of what can be achieved by the University and the NHS working together." he said.