Express & Star

Anger as much-loved wall of hands is knocked down

A wall decorated with hand prints of children treated on a ward in Stafford's County Hospital has been knocked down, sparking anger from parents.

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The much-loved Wall of Hands was part of the Shugborough Ward and featured hundreds of brightly coloured hand prints from youngsters.

But it has been demolished following the closure of the ward and the move of child inpatient services to Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Janet Hagan, matron for child health, said: "Prior to children's inpatient services moving to Royal Stoke University Hospital, staff on Shugborough Ward decided the best way to retain some of the features and memories on the ward.

"Consideration was given to whether the Wall of Hands could be moved, however, staff agreed that this would be impractical. It was a brick built wall with windows which could not easily be housed elsewhere."

The hospital decided the wall would be preserved through photographs. Ms Hagan added: "A professional photographer took pictures and these were used to create a frame for a 'farewell' photograph that was given to each member of staff.

"We are also looking at how parts of the wall could be used to create a monument."

Julian Porter, of the Support Stafford Hospital group said: "It meant a lot to me as my little boy Leo's hand print was actually on it. Leo is six now and in good health, but he was quite poorly when he was born and when we left the hospital we made sure he put his hand print on the wall.

"For some people it may not mean a lot but for others it could be very personal as some children may have sadly passed away whose hand prints were on there."

Mr Porter added that the wall could have been re-installed in the children's new emergency department at the hospital.

He said: "Why could it not be put in the new emergency department instead. I am very, very angry and annoyed about it. It just needs a bit of compassion and thought."

A group called Stafford Hospital Newsletter led a campaign to save the wall. Yesterday, a spokesman said: "Parents and children are very upset that it has been removed, they would prefer it stayed as a feature near to where Shugborough Ward."

The former Shugborough Ward is now being transformed into a £2 million suite for chemotherapy patients.

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