The Children’s Hospital Trust has successfully raised R90 million, a fully donor-funded achievement in which the Harry Crossley Foundation was proud to play a role, enabling the establishment of a state-of-the-art orthopaedic unit at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
The new facility includes a 30-bed ward, complete with isolation rooms, treatment rooms, physiotherapy spaces, and rehabilitation areas. It will provide comprehensive orthopaedic care across a range of services, including theatre surgeries, inpatient acute and chronic care, and outpatient rehabilitation clinics.
We had the privilege of attending the unveiling of the new unit. One of the most moving moments came from an eight-year-old patient and his father, who shared their journey of treatment for bowed legs. He expressed his gratitude to the hospital staff and, when asked if he approved of the new unit, gave an enthusiastic “yes!”
This project was years in the making and involved a multidisciplinary hospital team, alongside architects and engineers, who worked with a single vision: to design a building that truly serves the care of children. As Children’s Hospital Trust CEO Chantel Cooper reflected:
“This has been a tricky project, but with every challenge came opportunities. And with the opportunities, we found the value of collaboration. The important thing was that we solved the problems together.”
The new unit also marks a significant transition in paediatric orthopaedic care. With the closure of the historic Maitland Cottage Hospital in Claremont, which was established nearly 100 years ago to provide specialised orthopaedic care. The services have now been relocated to the Red Cross Childrens Hospital. In his address, Ian Scott, Chairperson of the Maitland Cottage Hospital Board, honoured this legacy:
“A group of compassionate people got together and bought two cottages in Maitland for the care of children with orthopaedic needs greater than what was available at the time. I think those who started it nearly 100 years ago would be super proud of what they see here today.”
The unveiling of the new orthopaedic unit stands as both a continuation of a century-long legacy of care and a bold step into the future, ensuring that children in need of orthopaedic treatment receive world-class support, treatment, and hope.
