More than five years ago, professionals in the pediatric oncology and hematology area at Vall d'Hebron began to worry because the facilities, especially those in the transplant unit, were beginning to become insufficient, uncomfortable or obsolete. The hospital lacked sufficient (public) resources to face a major remodeling and the managers thought of a fundraising campaign. That is what the Albert Bosch, Aladina and Small foundations have been dedicated to since April 2021. And they have achieved their objective: although a small part of the budget is still to be covered, the works have begun and within a period of two years the new, modern and exemplary facilities will be a reality.
The three foundations will contribute the 7.4 million in which the works are valued, which have been raised through campaigns and contributions from individuals and organizations. There is just over a million euros left to complete the budget for the project called Improved Reality, which has turned out to be much more ambitious than the urgent needs posed. “The most remarkable thing is that it has been a project in which three foundations have worked and collaborated in an exceptional way to carry out a work that will forever transform the hospital environment, letting light in, creating new leisure and rest areas and transforming the rooms for children, adolescents and transplants completely”, explains Laura Lucaya, vice president of Small.
The Vall d'Hebron treats more than a hundred new pediatric cancers each year (3,400 patients in the last 40 years) and performs fifty child transplants. The pediatric transplant area dates from the 90s and the hospitalization area is twenty years old. The Improved Reality project involves the comprehensive reform of a 2,646 m2 space to make it more spacious and bright, with patient and family areas separated from the professionals' work areas, and with play, leisure and rest areas. Patient rooms will be individual, will triple the surface (up to 19m2) and will have a camp for companions. "From the point of view of caring well for patients and their families, we are going to take a huge qualitative leap and we will be well positioned for many years," says the head of the service, Lucas Moreno, who also highlights the increase in space for research, transplants and advanced therapies.
In order to personalize care as much as possible, depending on the degree of maturation, each group of patients (children and adolescents/young adults) will have a specific unit.
“The reality of cancer is extremely harsh and we cannot change it, but with this new plant we can ensure that both children/adolescents and their families feel at home and find themselves in a comfortable environment”, reasons Laura Lucaya. Indeed, the facilities will have an impact "on the emotional well-being of children and adolescents with oncohematological diseases and their families, reducing stress and facilitating moments of disconnection", endorses Dr. Moreno. And it highlights the value that “working together with society” means for the hospital, with the three foundations, “so that society understands the needs of patients and their families and we can build a center with the best international standards”.
“This is a unique collaborative project between three foundations and public-private cooperation, to create the best facilities that directly impact the well-being of patients and medical excellence”, concludes Lucaya.
