Having to undergo surgery, even a minor one, can be daunting even when you’re a grown-up, but it’s especially harder on kids. That’s why one hospital from Leicester, UK, is letting them drive themselves to the operating theater.
The Childrens Hospital at Leicester Royal Infirmary in the East Midlands has received 6 electric mini-cars, which kids will be able to use to drive themselves to operations. The idea has been put into practice before at the hospital, when staff chipped in and raised money for one vehicle, a press statement says.
However, once that car broke down, they couldn’t afford to have it fixed or replaced. But the idea lingered, since it had proven to take off the stress associated with the moment you’re taken into the operating room.
Luckily, a local, family-run dealership, Sturgess Motor Group, stepped in to save the day. They donated 6 vehicles to the hospital, all of which will be put to good use after the initial, mandatory checks. In the same statement, they say members of the Sturgess family also received treatment here, so this is their way of saying thank-you.
The 6 cars include a remote-control electric Land Rover Defender, a Fiat 500, Alfa Romeo 4C, Volvo XC90, Jaguar F-Type and a Range Rover. They will make a world of difference to the kids needing surgery for anything from cancer to broken bones and emergency situations.
“Surgery can be an extremely daunting time for most people, let alone a child,” Julie Clerc, Matron at University Hospitals of Leicester, says. “We do everything we can to make the journey from the ward to the theater as comfortable as possible, but sometimes the experience can unnerve the most confident person. We wanted to think of ways that would make the trip more enjoyable for the younger children.”
Sturgess Motor Group says they’re pleased to have been able to contribute to making the idea of surgery “less daunting” for kids.
However, once that car broke down, they couldn’t afford to have it fixed or replaced. But the idea lingered, since it had proven to take off the stress associated with the moment you’re taken into the operating room.
Luckily, a local, family-run dealership, Sturgess Motor Group, stepped in to save the day. They donated 6 vehicles to the hospital, all of which will be put to good use after the initial, mandatory checks. In the same statement, they say members of the Sturgess family also received treatment here, so this is their way of saying thank-you.
The 6 cars include a remote-control electric Land Rover Defender, a Fiat 500, Alfa Romeo 4C, Volvo XC90, Jaguar F-Type and a Range Rover. They will make a world of difference to the kids needing surgery for anything from cancer to broken bones and emergency situations.
“Surgery can be an extremely daunting time for most people, let alone a child,” Julie Clerc, Matron at University Hospitals of Leicester, says. “We do everything we can to make the journey from the ward to the theater as comfortable as possible, but sometimes the experience can unnerve the most confident person. We wanted to think of ways that would make the trip more enjoyable for the younger children.”
Sturgess Motor Group says they’re pleased to have been able to contribute to making the idea of surgery “less daunting” for kids.