Lister Hospital can now provide a better experience for families of children by becoming the first district general hospital in the country to be recognised as a Sophie’s Legacy Approved Hospital this week.
The charity Sophie’s Legacy, founded by Charlotte Fairall in memory of her daughter Sophie, who died aged 10 in 2021, campaigns for improvements to children’s care across the NHS through five wishes made by Sophie during her cancer treatment.
Sophie’s wishes were for:
- Dedicated play specialist services in hospitals, 7-days per week
- Better food for children in hospital
- Parents staying with their child to be fed
- Training for health professionals in childhood cancer
- Increased funding for childhood cancer research.
The recognition celebrates the trust’s commitment to meeting all of Sophie’s wishes and improving the experience of children and families receiving care in hospital.
Unlike many hospitals in the country, the trust funds and benefits from a dedicated play specialist service which provides permanent support for patients and families.
Charlotte Fairall, founder of Sophie’s Legacy said:
“For 18 years, the play team at Lister Hospital has provided support from early morning through to late evening, including on weekends, helping children feel more comfortable and less frightened during their time in hospital.
“The impact play specialists have on families during some of their most difficult moments cannot be underestimated. They bring reassurance, compassion and a sense of normality when it is needed most.
“It is reassuring to know families at Lister have access to this level of support.”
Alongside this, the trust recognises providing choice, comfort and appropriate meals is an important part of improving the experience of children and families when in hospital.
Dedicated adult and children’s menus are in place across its children’s services, designed to meet a range of dietary and cultural needs to ensure parents, and children are fed together.
Work has also been undertaken across the trust to meet Sophie’s other wishes, including specialist training days and mandatory annual training for staff caring for children with cancer.
There have also been permanent changes to children’s ward staffing, to ensure at least two staff members with core cancer training are on duty on every shift.
The recognition reflects the work of teams across the trust to create a more compassionate and family-centred experience for children and young people receiving care.
As a result, Lister Hospital is now only the second NHS hospital in the country, after Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, and the first non-specialist children’s hospital to be accredited as a Sophie’s Legacy Approved Hospital.
Fay Clark, head of nursing and quality for children’s services said:
“This recognition is incredibly meaningful for our teams. Achieving all five of Sophie’s Wishes reflects our shared commitment to ensuring children, young people and their families receive not only high-quality clinical care, but also kindness, compassion and support throughout their hospital journey.”
Elizabeth Franklin-Jones, divisional director of nursing and quality for children & young people said:
“We are extremely proud to be the first district general hospital in the country to receive this recognition.
“Our thanks go to Charlotte and all our colleagues whose passion continues to drive improvements for children, young people and their families, with Sophie’s Wishes at the heart of our work.
“We remain committed to championing Sophie’s Legacy and supporting Charlotte and her team to raise the profile of Sophie’s Wishes locally, regionally and nationally.”
