Max Whitlock sets the gold standard at the RNOH

Posted by Rebekah Ahmed on 15 December 2016

The nation’s favourite gymnast visited the nation’s leading orthopaedic hospital today to officially open our new Children’s and Young Person’s (CYP) Outpatient Department. Olympic champion Max Whitlock visited the RNOH's Stanmore site, to officially open and show support for a new unit offering specialist orthopaedic care to children and adolescent patients.

Max, 23, is an ambassador for the RNOH Charity and has lent his efforts over the past three years to several campaigns to improve and update facilities at the hospital. Bringing his gold medals with him, Max was shown the new facilities by Professor Tony Goldstone, Chairman of the RNOH, and met some of the young patients and the staff who care for the children.

Max said: “I’m delighted to support the RNOH and the incredible work they do. As a gymnast I know how crucial bone and muscle health is and how important good rehabilitation is following any injury. The care given to patients at the RNOH is second to none and young patients in particular need the best start in life. This new children’s unit is able to deliver the very best care they need. After all, there could be some future gold medal winners here!”

The new CYP Outpatient Department has been refurbished with new reception area, examination and measurement rooms and a fully equipped gym area. The newly fitted department means children are seen in a clean and appropriate space, their privacy is maintained and the facilities better suited to their needs.

Zilla Huma, Director of Children’s Services at the RNOH said: “We are very grateful to the charities that have helped to raise the money required for this wonderful refurbishment. Children have always been seen in the same environment as adults and that is clearly not what any of us, clinical staff or parents, would prefer. This unit stands separate from the main department allowing us to focus on the needs of children visiting a hospital environment and keeps them safe. The RNOH has for a very long time needed this facility and it’s great that we now have one. Next, we want a world class children’s inpatient ward which is hopefully only two years away!”

Rosie Stolarski, Director of Fundraising at the RNOH Charity added: “We are thrilled that Max was able to come to the RNOH today and open the new CYP Outpatient Department. He is one of Britain’s greatest sports stars, and it was wonderful to see the excitement on the faces of our young patients when they met him. We can’t thank Max enough for his continuing support of the RNOH Charity's Redevelopment Appeal.”

The new CYP Outpatient Department is one part of a wider redevelopment of the century old Stanmore site. In 2018 a new five-storey Inpatient Ward Block will open that will provide new paediatric and adult inpatient wards as well as play and rehabilitation facilities.

The most successful gymnast in British history, Max holds ten medals and three titles in Olympic and world championships. A five-time Olympic medallist, winning two golds and three bronzes, he became Britain's first ever gold medallist in gymnastics when he won both the men's floor and pommel horse exercises at the 2016 Summer Olympics.