Sophie's Legacy was formed following the death of a ten-year-old Sophie Fairall who was diagnosed with cancer back in 2020.
The pilot, which is a collaborative effort between Sophie’s Legacy and NHS England, aims to address the ‘critical issue’ of providing meals to parents staying in hospital with their children. The Trust will receive £5,000 from the £75,000 funding provided by Sophie’s Legacy.
Kirsty Lewis, senior matron for acute children’s services at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), said: “Feeding parents of children in hospitals was a top priority for Sophie so we are glad that we can offer this pilot scheme at RWT and carry on her legacy.
“It is really important parents stay hydrated and fuelled so they can help participate in their child’s care and engage more effectively with medical professionals, leading to better decision-making about treatment options and plans. Ultimately, this translates into better outcomes for the child and enhances parents' sense of control during a challenging time.”
The project will run for up to twelve weeks and hospitals involved are free to consider the most appropriate method of implementation for them, which could include choosing meals from the hospital menu, offering ready-made meals or providing vouchers for the hospital restaurant.
Charlotte Fairall, chief executive of Sophie’s Legacy, added: “I am pleased we have managed to get this project launched. The impact this will have on thousands of families across the 15 hospitals will be huge. No parent should have to go hungry when they are in hospitals with their child, and we are doing all we can to change this.”