Kind-hearted donor provides playhouses for young patients

Young patients at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee will have new attractions to play with during treatment, thanks to a generous donation from a kind-hearted donor.

Ninewells Children’s Hospital received the gift from an anonymous benefactor, which has afforded them the chance to buy two new wooden playhouses for the outdoor garden.

Joiners and painters from the hospital’s property said they were delighted to pitch in and lend a hand to put the playhouses together.

Willie Baxter, a joiner with NHS Tayside, said: “It has been a real team effort from everyone and great to work on something different.

“The painters painted it white and once it was dry, we put it together in the warehouse.

“Once it was built, we took it to the play room garden and laid antislip vinyl flooring.

“Now it is back to the usual routine maintenance around the hospital until the next play house is ready to go up.”

Child patients and their families are already using the houses to great effect, with both wooden structures appearing very popular to boys and girls of various ages.

Gillian Doig, play specialist at the children’s hospital, said: “It’s so great to see the first house up and being used.

“We would like to thank our generous benefactor for donating the funds for the play houses and a huge thanks to our colleagues from property for building them and making them look fab.

“I’m sure they will be very popular with our young patients and their families.”

The children’s hospital opened in 2006 and has three wards – medical, surgical and the neonatal unit.

The ARCHIE appeal, the official charity of the unit, is currently fundraising to provide two new operating theatres.

The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail raised £883,000 for the project.