The Urgent Care Centre at Burnley General Hospital will now provide 24-hour programing for kids in its Children’s Waiting Area, after an intervention for a local MP.
Andrew Stephenson, the MP for Pendle, was contacted through Facebook by a father who had to take their child to the UCC during the evening after suffering a broken bone. They found the CBBC TV channel in the Children’s Waiting Area was turned off after the end of programming at 7pm, leaving children admitted afterwards without entertainment.
Mr Stephenson raised this with the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust who acted swiftly to ensure that POP 206, a 24-hour children’s channel, will be on in the waiting room after CBBC finishes.
Mr Stephenson said, “Accidents or emergencies can happen at any time and it is important the NHS provides the best possible service to children and young families.
“Children can get restless at the best of times but waiting for treatment in hospital is particularly stressful, not least for parents. I welcome the hospital responding quickly to improve the children’s waiting room environment at all hours.”
Kevin McGee, Chief Executive of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust says, “This was an excellent suggestion, and one we have acted on. From now on, we will access POP 206 television channel, which shows children’s films and entertainment and is a 24 hour channel, once CBBC ends at 7pm.”