Heart of PICU Appeal Creating a welcoming space for parents of critically ill children on Royal Brompton's Paediatric Intensive Care Unit Few things in life compare to the worry of watching helplessly as your child fights for their life. Yet, this is the reality for the parents of around 500 children who are cared for on Royal Brompton Hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) each year. These children often have little conscious awareness of their situation, but for their parents, time spent on the PICU can be very frightening. Hub area - "Unwelcoming" PICU staff are endlessly praised for their excellent care, communication and compassion. But the reception area, known as the PICU Hub (right), has been described as “unwelcoming” and “difficult to navigate”. Its poor design, with a very high desk that masks the face of the person behind it, means parents are often unsure about where to go and who to approach – the last thing they need. Meanwhile, staff feel the space does not allow them privacy when they are discussing individual patients. We are determined to change this, but we need your help. More open, more accessible, more privacy This artist's impression of the new PICU Hub shows how the space will be re-imagined and completely transformed. It will be far more open and accessible for parents, allowing them to see a friendly professional staff member, ready to help. At the same time, specially designed areas will give staff much-needed privacy to discuss delicate matters. Amazing care, poor design Suzy Newman's son Joshua was cared for on PICU as a baby. Here, she explains why we need your help. The staff on PICU saved Joshua. He is doing so well thanks to their care and compassion. I just wish the physical space had been more welcoming when I first arrived. The poor design doesn’t match up with the amazing care! Transforming the space would help make a very stressful situation that little bit more bearable. Will you help us help parents of critically ill children? Donate today. Thank you for your support Manage Cookie Preferences Do you have a spare five minutes to help us improve our website?I'll do itNo thanks