The kids ward at St Vincent’s Private Hospital East Melbourne is a sight to behold. Every few months the hard-working and dedicated paediatric team lovingly decorate the ward with a different theme.
The team not only donate their own time but they also pay for the decorations out of their own pocket. The current theme, “Under the Sea” has gone down swimmingly with some of the smallest patients… and their families.
The team first started decorating the ward in Christmas 2019. The theme ‘Elfs on the Shelf’ proved to be so popular, providing a much needed distraction for the young patients, that the team opted to update the themes every 3 months. An Easter theme followed then Halloween, an Aussie Christmas, Australia Day and Anzac Day.
St Vincent’s Kids Ward Nurse Unit Manager, Lucy Longworth, said it came at the perfect time. The themes have provided an ideal team building focus, especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns. “Everybody is involved, from sourcing items, colouring and creating the artwork to decorating the ward. The staff even purchase scrubs tops to match each theme.
“And of course, the themes provide endless delight and distraction for the patients and their families.”
Offering one of the largest private paediatric units in Victoria, St Vincent’s have been looking after kids for decades, specialising in orthopaedics, ear nose and throat surgery, urology, plastics and general surgery for infants, children and adolescents.
“I’m so lucky to have such a dedicated team. They embrace anything that helps to make a hospital stay less scary. There’s even a ‘find the Nemo’ search incorporated into the current theme, which helps to alleviate the boredom of being in hospital.”
“Nobody complains that they have to pay for it, but it would be a really nice if we were able to get some support to continue the themes. It would be a great way to thank the team for the wonderful work they do,” Lucy said.
Click here if you would like to make a donation to support St Vincent’s kids ward themes.
Businesses wishing to support this wonderful initiative can contact our Corporate and Community Partnerships Manager, Richard Thayer.
T: (03) 9231 3118
M: 0413 199 875
E: richard.thayer@svha.org.au
St Vincent's Kids: Photo Gallery
