For the past two years, the Press and Journal has proudly supported a campaign to revolutionise health care for youngsters across the north of Scotland.
The ARCHIE Foundation’s High 10 appeal will repair a decade of wear and tear at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH), make the hospital a world-class facility in every respect and give youngsters every possible support to get better.
The charity’s ambitious vision for the future of the hospital was once just a dream.
Today, that dream becomes a reality.
Thanks to the generosity of the public who have been fundraising tirelessly, ARCHIE has completed the first of 10 vital steps in its plan to provide the best care for young patients and their families.
The newly-refurbished Child Development Facility and treatment room at Kincardine Community Hospital in Stonehaven has been completely revamped, providing children in Aberdeenshire with more treatment and assessment spaces.
Staff will also benefit from more equipment and refurbished facilities, ideal for treatments such as speech therapy and physiotherapy.
The work might not be at the RACH – but ARCHIE knows how important it is to have incredible support delivered in the wider community too.
During consultations with patients, their families and doctors to create the High 10 plan, one of the most important issues to emerge was the need to reduce the fear of going home.
Although the aim for the majority of youngsters is to finally leave hospital, it can also be one of the scariest as they no longer have access to 24/7 medical support.
This facility will provide staff with the base they need to provide crucial support in the community, and give families the reassurance they need once they leave RACH.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the recently-appointed Provost of Aberdeenshire, Hamish Vernal – who was there to cut the ribbon – said he was delighted with the investment in such a crucial service.
“There are real benefits to treating children in their own communities,” he said.
“The child development team here are delighted with their new facilities, and are excited to start working and giving the children better treatment than ever.”
Joe Mackie, chairman of the ARCHIE Foundation, said it was a great feeling to tick-off its first completed step.
“It’s the first community facility that we’re opening as part of the High 10 appeal, which is fantastic,” he said.
“We’ve done a lot of good work within the shire, so we’re really conscious of the need to look after the units outwith the main hospital.”