More than five years ago, the professionals in the area of pediatric oncology and hematology at Vall d'Hebron began to worry because the facilities, especially those of the transplant unit, were beginning to be insufficient, uncomfortable or outdated. The hospital did not have enough (public) resources to face a major remodeling and the managers thought of a fundraising campaign. Since April 2021, the Albert Bosch, Aladina and Small foundations have been dedicated to this. And they have achieved their goal: although a small part of the budget needs to be covered, the works have started and within two years the new, modern and model facilities will be a reality.
The three foundations will contribute the 7.4 million in which the works are valued, which have been collected through campaigns and contributions from individuals and organizations. There is just over one million euros left to complete the budget for the project dubbed as Enhanced Reality, which has turned out to be much more ambitious than the initial needs suggested. "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, as it lets in light, creates new areas of leisure and rest and completely transforms the rooms of children, teenagers and transplants", explains Laura Lucaya, vice president of Small.
Vall d'Hebron treats more than a hundred new pediatric cancers every year (3,400 patients in the last 40 years) and carries out half a hundred child transplants. The pediatric transplant area dates back to the nineties and the hospitalization area is twenty years old. The Realitat Millorada project constitutes the comprehensive reform of a space of 2,646 m2 to make it more spacious and bright, with areas for patients and family members separated from the work areas of professionals, and with play, leisure and rest areas. The patients' rooms will be individual, will triple the surface area (up to 19 m2) and will have a bed for companions. "From the point of view of serving patients and their families well, we will make a great qualitative leap and we will be well positioned for many years", points out 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 to the maximum, depending on the degree of maturity, each group of patients (children and adolescents, and young adults) will have a specific unit.
"The reality of cancer is very harsh and we cannot change it, but with this new plant we can ensure that both children and teenagers 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 boys, girls and teenagers with oncohematological diseases and their families, since it will reduce their stress and facilitate moments of disconnection", affirms Dr. Moreno. And he highlights the value that for the hospital comes from "working together with society", with the three foundations, that society understands the needs of patients and their families and that we can build a center with the best standards on an international scale.
"This is a unique project of collaboration between three foundations and public-private cooperation, to create the best facilities that have a direct impact on the well-being of patients and medical excellence", concludes Lucaya.
