Ocean Ward

Ocean Ward – Children love it

At a cost of over £1 million Wessex Heartbeat completely refurbished the high care Children’s Cardiac Ward to create the colourful, nautically themed Ocean Ward of today, with its child-friendly, safe and stimulating environment for children.

The Wessex Cardiac Centre is only one of a few places in the country offering the full range of treatments for people born with heart defects and it treats children from across Wessex and further afield in Cornwall, Devon and the Channel Isles. Thankfully so many more children born with heart conditions now live through to adulthood, and over 1000 are cared for in Ocean Ward every year with numbers continuing to rise as a result of medical advances. Evidence shows that where children are treated can be as critical as how they are treated, so Ocean ward is not just the icing on the cake in the care of these children, it is central to their physical, psychological and emotional well being.

“As a close team of specialist cardiac nurses we pride ourselves on our compassion and caring for each child and their family for as long and as often as they need us. With Wessex Heartbeat’s support, Ocean Ward as it is now helps us give children rounded care, meeting not just their medical needs, but all of their needs while they are with us. You’d be surprised how often they don’t want to leave”
Margaret Porter: Senior Sister, Ocean Ward

For more information and contact details for Ocean Ward visit www.uhs.nhs.uk and follow the links to Children’s Congenital Heart Services

The Appeal for Ocean Ward was very successful, helped in no small part by the Linbury Trust. Wessex Heartbeat is grateful to all.