Royal Hospital for Children for Patients, Carers & Visitors
Zone 12 is an area for young people from age 12 and upwards. This area offers a space where you can meet other young people, play games, table tennis, enjoy arts and crafts and many other activities. There are also some comfy couches with a TV and games consoles for you to relax and escape from the clinical environment. This area is staffed by our dedicated youth worker, Ally Mellon. Ally is very passionate about the youth service and is responsible for organising an interesting programme of workshops, activities and clubs for the young people in the hospital. Ally will also visit you on a one-to-one basis in your rooms if you cannot leave your ward. If you would like more information about this ask a member of staff.
Facilities for Teens
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Here at the Royal Hospital for Children, we recognise the unique requirements that teenagers and young people have throughout their time in the hospital. To meet these requirements we have a number of services which are tailored to meet your needs.
Ask a member of staff if you want to know more about these.
The Teenage Cancer Trust Lounge (or TCT as it’s affectionately known) on the Oncology/Haematology ward is a dedicated space for teenagers.
The social lounge has everything you need to make your stay in hospital that little bit easier. Some of the facilities in the area include a pool table, juke box, comfy sofas with TV and games consoles, and a small kitchen for family and friends to use.
This area is staffed by Rónán Kelly, who is our dedicated Youth Support Coordinator. Rónán's role is to support young people throughout their treatment with an emphasis on peer support.
Rónán does this by arranging opportunities for young people to meet either through workshops, fun ward-based activities or support sessions such as monthly socials or workshops such as Art Therapy.
Rónán also runs numerous trips outwith the hospital for young people up to two years post treatment with the overarching aim of providing continuing support for cancer patients
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We are very lucky to have our very own MediCinema in the hospital. The MediCinema is a full size cinema within the hospital which shows all the current films. This facility offers a sense of normality in the evening time as well as some respite from being in the ward all day.
The MediCinema team are very flexible when it comes to supporting young people. They often arrange private viewings for those who may not be able to attend the cinema with a group of people. They also employ nurses to accompany the patients from the ward to the cinema. For more information please ask a member of staff.
In addition to these age specific services, the hospital and its patients are very well supported by a large team consisting of play specialists, play assistants and an events organiser who is directly employed by the hospital charity. Together, this dedicated team support and care for all our patients and organise a great weekly calendar of events to keep everyone from feeling bored and under stimulated.
We know staying in hospital can be frustrating and challenging. Patient WiFi is available throughout the hospital. WiFi details are available here.
