Great Ormond Street Hospital

Our mission

We raise money to enable Great Ormond Street Hospital to provide world-class care for its young patients and their families and to pioneer new treatments and cures for childhood illness by:

·        Contributing to the rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital;

·        Funding the most up-to-date equipment;

·        Supporting research into, and development of, breakthrough treatments; and

·        Providing accommodation and other support services for children and their families

Redevelopment of the hospital

Our biggest requirement for funds is to support the major redevelopment of two-thirds of the hospital’s site. With the first phase of the redevelopment complete, we have now launched a capital appeal to raise £170m to complete the second part of the hospital’s redevelopment. This is a seven-year project and will include the construction of a brand new clinical building and allow us to refurbish one of our existing buildings and bring it up to world-class standards. We anticipate a 20 per cent increase in demand for our services - an estimated 20,000 more patient visits each year. The redevelopment will allow us to cater for this increase. 

Equipment

Technological and medical advances allow us to continue to improve the quality of care we can provide for sick children.  In order to do this, we must ensure we have the very best medical equipment. Medical equipment is expensive. Providing medical equipment suitable to be used for young people, children and often babies, is particularly expensive. However, thanks to our supporters, the charity is able to provide the hospital with leading edge equipment so that our exceptional doctors and nurses can improve diagnosis and treatments and continue to provide children with world class care.

Research

Carrying out research into the best way to fight children’s illnesses has been one of our three main ambitions ever since Great Ormond Street Hospital opened in 1852. We’ve come a long way in the last 150 years and, with our dedicated research partner the UCL Institute of Child Health, we now form the largest paediatric centre in Europe dedicated to both clinical and basic scientific research. Research plays a critical role in pioneering new ways to prevent, treat and cure complex, life-limiting and often life threatening illnesses.   Ultimately, the research we conduct benefits not only children in the UK and around the world but also generations of children yet to be born. However, recent changes in the way research is funded by the government mean that we have significant challenges ahead of us. This is why Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity has committed to raising over £6 million each year to support research vital to the hospital's future.

Patient and family support

The welfare of our patients is our primary concern. There can be no better care and reassurance than for a child to know that their parent is right beside them. It is vital that we help children and families cope with what can inevitably be a stressful time when visiting hospital.

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Date Published: 03/04/09