Inverness schoolboy cancer survivor is chosen to launch new Theatre Improvement Initiative in Glasgow
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A boy from Inverness has opened of a new theatre area at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow after he endured gruelling treatment there when battling cancer.
Courageous Riley Maclennan was saved from cancer thanks to a stem cell transplant in 2021.
The nine-year-old received the transplant of cells taken from a new baby’s umbilical cordon a year after the disease came back for a second time.
He endured chemotherapy and weeks in isolation hundreds of miles away from home at hospital in Glasgow.
Since batting gruelling treatment, Riley and his proud parents Kevin Maclennan (55) and Moira Black (45) have shared their remarkable family story to inspire others to play a part in the fight against cancer.
Since batting gruelling treatment, Riley and his proud parents Kevin Maclennan (55) and Moira Black (45) have shared their remarkable family story to inspire others to play a part in the fight against cancer.
Last night, Riley and his parents travelled down from Inverness to attend the opening of the enhanced Theatres area at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
This monumental milestone in the history of paediatric care is the first phase of the Theatres Improvement Initiative, a pioneering programme designed to transform the experience of young patients and their families within its operating theatres.
In 2018, Dr. Alyson Walker, Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthetist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, embarked on a transformative journey destined to reshape the landscape of paediatric surgery at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, touching the lives of over 10,000 children each year.
Today heralds a new standard for paediatric operating theatres as the first phase of the Theatre Improvement Initiative was officially opened.
To mark this tremendous occasion, Inverness schoolboy, Riley, was presented with a goody bag from Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity when he arrived, along with 11-year-old Scarlett Dougan, a cardiology patient, before the pair helped Dr Aly Walker cut the ribbon in the new reception area.
Explaining the motivation behind her vision, Dr Walker said: “For children, parents, and caregivers, visiting the operating theatre can be a daunting experience. The stories that children and families share about their experiences in the theatre last a lifetime, so we want them to be positive.
“Whilst hospital design has improved greatly in recent decades, it is still the case that there are pockets of clinical areas that patients still find intimidating.
“Our Theatre Improvement Project set out to change this narrative.
She continued: "We wanted to transform our theatre environment into one filled with empathy so that children, their families and indeed staff will feel calmer and more welcomed. The new environment contains welcome distractions and moments of joy for those visiting.
"It is important on both an emotional and clinical level. A more empathic environment will lead to less anxiety, greater satisfaction, less emergence delirium, less post-op nausea and vomiting and less pain relief requirements.
"I am deeply grateful for the support of the public, businesses and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for making this vision become a reality.”
The hospital treats over 500 children every day, with a third of which come from beyond Greater Glasgow. This project will also help many more children just like Riley, who need critical medical treatment, but are also forced to move hundreds of miles away from their home. Therefore, this initiative is aimed to help calm the children as they tackle life threatening diseases, such as cancer.
