HOSPITAL WARDS TRIBUTE TO VICHAI
City chairman’s legacy lives on in children’s units Cause was close to his heart before tragedy
BOTH intensive care units at Leicester Childrens’ Hospital are to be named after Leicester City’s late chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
The naming decision has been taken by Leicester Hospitals Charity in recognition of the £2 million donation he made to the project.
The announcement was made yesterday – six days before the first anniversary of his death in a helicopter crash at the King Power Stadium.
The charity has said that both the Children’s Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at the Balmoral Building and the new Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Leicester Royal Infirmary will be designated The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Children’s Intensive Care Unit.
The hospital tribute, made with the consent of Khun Vichai’s family, is in recognition of the generous donation he made to the Leicester Hospitals Charity’s Children’s Hospital Appeal following the club’s historic Premier League title win in 2016.
The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Children’s Intensive Care Units will form an important part of a plan to create the East Midlands’ first dedicated children’s hospital, where all children’s services will be located under one roof, separate from adult services.
Leicester City vice-chairman Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha, son of Khun Vichai, was given the opportunity to tour the children’s intensive care units to be named in his father’s memory ahead of the official launch of the Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal at King Power Stadium in July.
“This is a very proud moment for my family,” said Khun Apichet.
“My father always supported Leicester’s communities because he believed in giving back to the people that have given so much to us.
“His donations to Leicester’s hospitals were about supporting the future generations of those communities and making sure there would always be help available to families that needed it most.
“Our family, Leicester City Football Club and the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation intend to honour my father’s legacy by continuing to support those communities in the same spirit.”
Leicester Hospitals Charity director Lisa Davies said the naming of the intensive care units in honour of Khun Vichai reflected the impact of his legacy both on Leicester’s hospitals and community.
She said: “It is with the deepest admiration and respect for Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha that we announce we will be naming such an important area of our children’s services in his memory.
“In his life, Khun Vichai donated so much to improve children’s services at our hospitals and regularly extended special invitations to our young patients to attend Leicester his executive box at the King Power Stadium. His selflessness and compassion for our city and its children was always deeply appreciated.
“We can think of no better way to commemorate his life and legacy than by dedicating the children’s intensive care units at Leicester Children’s Hospital in his name.”
Leicester Hospitals Charity is fundraising for a £7.5 million appeal to help complete the first phase of the Leicester Children’s Hospital and has called on people across Leicestershire, Rutland and the wider East Midlands to donate to and show their support for the cause.
Sunday will mark the first anniversary of the tragedy.
Leicester City will open a memorial garden in tribute to Khun Vichai and those others who lost their lives – staff members Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare and pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.