Southampton Children’s Hospital

24/07/2025

With the school holidays starting this week, it's the perfect time for fun, adventures, and making memories. But we know it can also bring a few bumps, scrapes, or tumbles along the way!

The Healthier Together website and app are fantastic resources created by NHS healthcare professionals to help you make confident decisions about your child's health. Whether it's minor injuries, heat-related illnesses, or common infections, you'll find clear, trustworthy advice right at your fingertips.

💻 Visit healthiertogether.nhs.uk or download the Healthier Together app to stay prepared and informed this summer.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe summer holidays 🌞 💙

16/07/2025

Over a thousand families have now joined a newborn eye screening study at UHS👏

This national research is evaluating an imaging device to help diagnose cataracts, a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness at birth.

A huge thank you to the incredible research nurses and midwives based at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility 💙

Read more 👇

A newborn eye screening study is marking an impressive milestone at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust 🏥👏

One thousand families have joined national research that is testing how well a new imaging device can diagnose cataracts in newborn babies. Cataracts - which are cloudy areas that form in the lens of the eye - are the most common cause of avoidable childhood blindness.

The achievement has been made possible by an amazing team of research nurses and midwives based at our NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility 💙

Read more: https://research.uhs.nhs.uk/news/southampton-recruits-1000-babies-for-newborn-eye-screening-study

📸 Image credit: 42T Ltd (right)

14/07/2025

Meet Jacqueline Young, a Clinical Scientist in Paediatric Audiology at Royal South Hants Hospital 👋

She plays a vital role in helping children with hearing loss – from testing their hearing to fitting hearing aids, and even helping families understand what their child hears using a special hearing loss simulator👂

Thanks to the UHS Research Leaders Programme, Jacqueline is expanding Southampton’s hearing research, building exciting new collaborations and mentoring her team to lead research that makes an impact across the NHS.

Find out more 👇

🦻 Transforming care for children with hearing loss

Jacqueline Young is a Clinical Scientist in Paediatric Audiology at Royal South Hants Hospital.

She tests hearing, fits hearing aids, and helps families experience what their child hears - using innovative tools like a hearing loss simulator.

Jacqueline’s research has already helped shape national testing guidelines and improve counselling conversations.

Now, supported by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust’s Research Leaders Programme, Jacqueline is growing Southampton’s hearing research.

She’s forming new collaborations, and mentoring her team to lead their own research and contribute to evidence-based care across the NHS.

Read more: https://www.soar-southampton.org/rlp-cohort-5/jacqueline-young

11/07/2025

We were delighted to officially open our newly extended neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Princess Anne Hospital today 🎉👶🏽🏥

After nine years of planning, this much-anticipated expansion marks a major step forward in the care we provide to our tiniest patients and their families. It is part of a £10m investment into Princess Anne Hospital.

The new unit features modernised state-of-the-art rooms and more spacious bed areas, which creates a welcoming environment for families and a more workable area for NICU staff.

✂️🎀 The ribbon was cut by our CEO David French and Professor Mark Johnson, consultant neonatologist.

Victor Taylor, senior clinical operations manager for maternity and neonatal services, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the completion of our expanded NICU! This modern, spacious environment enriches the experience for our neonatal families - giving parents more time at their baby’s bedside and providing our dedicated staff with a setting that reflects the world-class care they deliver every day.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this milestone possible.”
🙏💙👏

09/07/2025

👶Every breath counts, especially for babies born 12 to 18 weeks too soon. At that stage, even the basic act of breathing can be a life-threatening challenge.

UHS consultant neonatologist Kevin Goss is leading research that could make those first breaths a little easier.

As part of the UHS Research Leaders Programme, Kevin is investigating the role of choline, a nutrient that helps the lungs stay open by supporting the production of surfactant.

Find out more 👇

👶 Helping tiny babies breathe

For babies born between 12 to 18 weeks early, taking their first breath is a massive challenge.

Kevin Goss, Consultant Neonatologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Southampton, is working to change that.

As part of the UHS Research Leaders Programme, Kevin is investigating how a common nutrient - choline - could support lung development in very premature babies.

Why choline? It’s a key building block in producing surfactant, a substance that lines the lungs and keeps them open for breathing.

While healthy babies make this naturally at birth, very premature babies struggle to produce enough on their own, making breathing incredibly difficult.

Kevin’s research will explore whether adding choline to these babies’ diets could help improve their long-term health.

Read more: soar-southampton.org/rlp-cohort-5/kevin-goss

08/07/2025

Happy 10th birthday to the Southampton Oxford Neonatal Transfer service (SONeT)! 🎉🚑👶

SONeT is a groundbreaking joint initiative between UHS and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust delivering life-saving care to critically ill babies across the South. Launched in 2015, the service supports 15 hospitals across Thames Valley and Wessex and has now transferred or supported over 10,000 newborns 👏

Sarah Davidson, consultant neonatologist at UHS and clinical lead for Southampton SONeT, said: “Every day, we care for some of the most vulnerable babies and support families during incredibly difficult times.

“Being part of SONeT means we can extend that specialist care beyond our hospital walls – making sure babies across the region get the intensive treatment they need, when they need it most."

To mark the milestone, staff recently held a small celebration to reflect on a decade of care, recognising the far-reaching impact SONeT has had on patients, families and neonatal services across the region.

🔗 Find out more: https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/whats-new/press-releases/groundbreaking-neonatal-transfer-service-celebrates-10-years-of-life-saving-care

02/07/2025

🚴‍♀️ A HUGE well done to the 44 amazing riders who braved the heat and conquered a gruelling 100-mile journey from Evelina London Children's Hospital to Southampton Children’s Hospital on Saturday! 👏

They rode to raise money so that we can send a team of young kidney patients to the British Transplant Games, which begin later this month.

These inspiring games showcase the life-changing benefits of organ transplantation, helping transplant patients regain fitness, while highlighting the importance of joining the NHS Organ Donation Register and having those vital conversations with loved ones.

🙏 A big thank you to the Grantley Arms, Tichborne Arms and Cowherds pubs for keeping our riders refreshed with some much-needed pit stops along the way 💦

Next stop: British Transplant Games 🏅

30/06/2025

🎉There were celebrations today as we officially opened our brand new, purpose-built rehabilitation unit for children with neurological injuries and illnesses — a huge step forward in the care we can offer our young patients.

This new space exists thanks to the determination and generosity behind Robbie’s Rehab, a charity fund created in memory of Robbie Keville (pictured with the cat), a former patient who passed away from cancer in 2016, after also losing his mum, Kate, to breast cancer in 2011.

Robbie’s dad Mark opened the ward with a heartfelt ribbon-cutting ceremony ✂️

“We were completely overwhelmed by the support that we received from so many adventurous fundraisers,” said Mark. "The Robbie’s Rehab ward has been made possible by them and is a tribute not only to Robbie and Kate but also to the grit and determination of so many generous donors, to who we owe huge thanks.”

The new unit is full of thoughtful, child-friendly touches:
🏖️ A bright, beach-themed ward
🛏️ Pull-down beds so parents can stay overnight
🗣️ A quiet therapy room for speech, language, and psychological support
🛁 A spacious bathroom designed for dignity, privacy, and comfort

Six-year-old Connor (pictured with Mark and his wife Floss) is one of our first young patients to benefit from these incredible new facilities.

A huge thank you to everyone at Robbie's Rehab and all their amazing donors, as well as Southampton Hospitals Charity UK, for their support in helping the unit become a reality 👏

Find out more: https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/whats-new/press-releases/specialist-rehabilitation-unit-opens-for-children-with-acquired-brain-injuries-in-memory-of-ten-year-old-boy

23/06/2025

On Saturday dozens of incredible cyclists will be taking on a gruelling 100-mile journey from Evelina London Children's Hospital to Southampton Children’s Hospital — all in support of young kidney patients 🚴

Now in its fifth year, this ride helps raise vital funds to send a team of children to the British Transplant Games in Oxford later this summer.

Among the keen riders is Hannah Sinclair, whose daughter Iris is one of our patients. Born with dysplastic kidneys, Iris faces daily challenges that include regular hospital visits, blood tests, special diets, and multiple medications. While she’ll eventually need a transplant, the timeline is uncertain — and the journey is anything but easy.

Hannah says: “The Transplant Games are an opportunity to celebrate children with new kidneys. It brings together people affected by kidney disease from all walks of life, raises awareness of organ donation and promotes the importance of an active life.”

Let’s support these riders as they pedal with purpose and passion. You can sponsor Hannah, who will be riding alongside her friends Beth, Colleen, and Amy, here:
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/amy-beth-colleen-hannah

💙 Thank you to every rider and donor making a difference for our renal patients. We’re cheering you on every mile of the way!

19/06/2025

The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued a Yellow Heat-Health Alert for parts of England until 6pm on Sunday 22 June.

Most of us like to get out and enjoy the sunshine, but no one wants to be in our emergency department with a child suffering from heat exhaustion.

Help keep your children safe in the heat:
🥤 Make sure they drink plenty of water or cold drinks throughout the day
🧴 👒 👕 Use sunscreen, pop on a hat, and dress them in light, breathable clothes
🏠 🌳 Keep them indoors in a cool space or in the shade if outdoors during the hottest part of the day (11am–3pm)

Find out more on the Healthier Together website: https://www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk/child-under-12-years/staying-safe-over-the-summer

12/06/2025

This week we had a magical visit from the amazing team at Spread A Smile.

Four wonderful volunteers spread smiles across Southampton Children’s Hospital, lighting up our paediatric wards and outpatients department with songs 🎤, magic tricks 🎩, and huge smiles 😄

Thanks to a generous donation from Hasbro Toys, they handed out games, playdough sets and gifts that brought so much joy to our young patients🎁

Thank you Spread a Smile for bringing so much happiness and sparkle to our hospital 💙

10/06/2025

We are currently hosting a group of incredible clinicians from Ukraine as part of a specialist NHS training programme focused on paediatric rehabilitation 🇺🇦

These visiting medics from across Ukraine – including regions heavily affected by shelling – are participating in a four-week programme which has been coordinated by the Children’s Hospital Alliance, with two weeks at Southampton Children’s Hospital.

They are gaining vital experience in areas such as intensive care, neurorehabilitation, neonatology, emergency medicine and sleep disorders.

During their time with us, they’re observing clinics, shadowing our multidisciplinary teams, and spending time on the paediatric intensive care unit, neonatal unit at Princess Anne Hospital, and with our orthopaedics and neurorehabilitation teams.

The programme has been funded by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the World Bank (Health Enhancement and Lifesaving – HEAL) with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) country office in Ukraine. NHS staff are giving their time and specialist expertise.

To find out more visit: 🔗
https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/whats-new/press-releases/southampton-childrens-hospital-welcomes-clinicians-from-ukraine-for-specialist-training

💙💛