I wanted to write my blog post today surrounding my experience at the Children’s hospital in Birmingham. To say it was incredible would not be expressing the establishment to its full extent. Walking in you see bright colors, Dinos, drawings and everything to make the hospital as welcoming as it can for children. In my opinion, this hospital should be the default for all hospitals back in the USA.

Here’s some backround about the hospital. It is one of the leading specialist children’s hospitals in the United Kingdom, that provides expert care for children and young people from across the country. Specifically, the hospital is known for delivering advanced treatments, complex surgical procedures, and supporting research in the paediatric healthcare system. They support medical research to improve treatments for childhood illnesses and rare diseases. The hospital is heavily invested in paediatric research projects involving childhood cancer, neurological disorders, rare genetic diseases, and infant brain tumours. Family realtionship are another huge priority. They go for a empathetic approach on giving the family as much support as possible. The Magnolia House is the best example of this. The house was created to provide families with a more comfortable place to have hard conversations that don’t look like another add on of a hospital. It was designed completely through the parents that had lossed children and is funded through charity and donations. The building includes private counselling rooms, a peaceful lounge area, kitchen facilities, and a quiet garden where families can sit, reflect and “escape” together. Large windows, soft colours, and natural lighting were chosen to create a calming atmosphere for families facing the unimaginable that no parent should ever have to think about reguarding their own flesh and blood. The house also acts as a private building for families to say their goodbyes. The queen sized pull out couch had every color of sheets and is even suitable for personal bedding that can be brought in from their homes. After their passing, the family is leaglly only allowed four hours, but the hospital creates memory boxes and makes sure the family members have all of the items their children loved.

I beileve that this should be a standard for all hospitals. Nobody should have to go through this, let alone in a hospital room with the bright white lights that cause a headache. Another important thing I noticed is that, all religions are supported and even have rooms to accomidate to the diveristy their hospital consists of.

I love everything about this hospital and all the small deatils that go into it, it’s so hard to put into words all the emotions I have from this day. I’m hoping more words come to me later in the blogs so I can give this hospital the conversation it deserves.