Evelina London thanks families for involvement in designing future cancer services

Evelina London has been working with families to create new, welcoming spaces for future children, young people and families who will receive specialist cancer care at the hospital. Designs so far show the layout of each area, carefully planned with expert staff and families to make best use of space.

The voices of families and young people have informed each and every step of the design stages for the new specialist cancer care spaces at Evelina London Children's Hospital. From creative workshops to online design sessions, input has come from patients and their families, and staff members at Evelina London, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Their combined ideas and feedback have helped to make sure the designs reflect real experiences.

Children and young people took part in a workshop with Japanese manga artist, Kiriko Kubo, organised by specialist designers, Art in Site. Kiriko designed the award-winning artwork seen throughout Evelina London Children's Hospital and the Children's Day Treatment Centre. She is now supporting Art in Site with the design for the cancer care areas. The concept for these new areas for day care, which will be housed in the Children's Day Treatment Centre, will be 'space garden', in keeping with the space theme used on other floors of the centre. At the creative workshop, Kiriko supported children in hospital to draw their own designs and invent characters to fit the theme. Their drawings will inspire the final artwork.

Online design sessions and visits to those undergoing treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton have given children and their families a chance to directly influence plans. They have shared ideas about furniture, lighting, and activities that would create spaces that feel like a "home away from home".

Thanks to their input, the design team have made plans for the bedrooms — where children and young people will stay overnight — to be as customisable as possible. This includes space for children's artwork and for families to display personal items to make the rooms feel more like their own. Even the bed design has been simplified so the room looks less clinical.

Families shared concerns that cooking smells may disturb children who are feeling sick from their treatment. As a result, the ward catering kitchen will be as far away as possible from the bedrooms. They also reflected that space to come together and meet other families is important. The parents'lounge will include a large 'kitchen table' to provide a welcoming environment.

When discussing chemotherapy, families said that they need to be able to find a member of the team without having to go too far from their child. A large, central staff base has been added to the plans for the chemotherapy lounge so families can find a team member whenever they need.

Family representatives were even involved in selecting the architects for the project, ADP Architecture, and again more recently in the procurement of the construction partner, appointing John Sisk & Son (Sisk). The first phase of construction has begun, with the team working hard to reduce disruption for patients, families and staff.

Trish Gray, programme manager and patient and public engagement specialist, leads the work with families. She said: "I would like to thank everyone who has given up their time to share their experiences and opinions with us. When visiting The Royal Marsden, it was clear how deeply everyone cares about making the spaces the best they can be for future families.  Hearing families' experiences has been so valuable for guiding the designs.

One family told us that the bedroom on the ward should feel like 'a cosy nest where you have everything you need to take care of your child, and yourself', and that really stuck with me.

"With their help, we hope to create areas that will help families feel safe, comfortable and supported."

You can read more in our online report about how families helped shape the designs during this phase, including floor plans and early design sketches.

Evelina London Children's Hospital was selected by NHS England as the future location of children's cancer services for south London and much of south east England in March 2024. Since then, they have been working with partner organisations to prepare for the safe transfer of the existing children's cancer Principal Treatment Centre from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. More information on the transfer and how to get involved is on the Evelina London website.