Colourful mural brightens up Children's Emergency Department entrance thanks to Charity funding

Children and young people visiting the Children’s Emergency Department at Royal Stoke University Hospital are benefitting from a brighter welcome, thanks to a colourful mural being installed at the entrance of the department.

The artwork, created by local design business Muddy Publishing and illustrator Matt Buckingham, inspired by nature and imagination, was funded by UHNM Charity.

The project was a collaboration between Matt and students from Merit Referral School in Bucknall to co-design the mural. Together, the children explored different ideas, and agreed the final design should represent a journey through nature, with themes of the environment and open space.

Alex Smith, Deputy Head of Capital Development at UHNM, said: “After collaborating with our local community, our UHNM staff and our patients to develop the final artwork content, we are so pleased to see the artwork installed, and the first impressions of our Royal Stoke CED enhanced. The delivery of our new Acute Medical Rapid Assessment (AMRAU) building introduced a significant and unavoidable change to the route into the Children’s Emergency Department for our patients. Whilst this could have been a compromise, the Capital Development team treated this as an opportunity for improvement, which UHNM Charity kindly supported.”

The mural is hoped to create a more cheerful and comforting environment for young patients who may be feeling anxious or unwell.

Illustrator, Matt Buckingham, said: “It was a great pleasure to work with UHNM on this project to help transform the entrance way to the new Children’s Accident and Emergency Department to help make the space more inviting, welcoming and friendly.

“Creating the 21-meter-long mural was an enjoyable design challenge that features intricate elements, such as round pillars transformed into trees and a corridor window reimagined as a birdwatching hut. The countryside landscape is filled with playful animals for viewers to discover, adding an element of fun and distraction. 

“Hopefully the design will have a positive impact on this important building for years to come.”

If you would like to fundraise for UHNM Charity visit www.uhnmcharity.org.uk for more information, or call 01782 676444 to speak to one of the UHNM Charity team.