This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New children's surgical unit opens at Ninewells
29/07/2004
A new short stay surgical unit for children at Ninewells
Hospital in Dundee was opened today.
The number of children expected to benefit from the new
state-of-the-art unit each year is approximately 1,700.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"I am delighted to open this new unit. It marks the
final phase of developments to ensure that NHS Tayside has
a high quality, sustainable surgical service for
children.
"The unit has a dedicated children's theatre and £1.2
million has been invested to refurbish the 10 bedded ward.
It is specifically tailored to meet the needs of children
and includes additional facilities for parents.
"Bringing these together means that all of the
children's care is undertaken in a single, child-friendly
area.
"Before the unit was created operations on children took
place in 12 different theatres throughout Ninewells, where
adult surgery is also carried out.
"The development of this dedicated facility gives young
patients in Dundee facilities already available to those in
our other major cities, Glasgow, Edinburgh &
Aberdeen.
"The environment created should help the young patients,
their parents and staff at what is a difficult and often
frightening time.
"I am very pleased to hear that in the first few weeks
of the unit being fully operational the feedback from both
patients and staff has been very positive."