Plans developed for world’s most advanced child technology centre

Plans have been developed by Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust for the most advanced child technology centre in the world.

The centre will become part of a rapidly growing cluster of international organisations at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park aimed at improving public health and wellbeing.

The Children’s Hospital Centre for child health technology (CCHT) will research long-term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and mental health disorders.

Facilities at the new centre will include digital and advanced technology laboratories, clinical space, a thermal imaging suite, therapy and rehabilitation rooms, test-bed facilities, a living laboratory, and new offices, seminar and conference rooms.

The CCHT has the potential to bring substantial economic benefits to the city and bring wider opportunities by supporting 3,485 gross full-time equivalent jobs, 318 higher-value professional jobs and 1,000 construction-related jobs says the council.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will be responsible for the design, procurement and operations management.

Former sports minister, Richard Caborn, project leader for the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park said: ‘Investing in CCHT makes economic sense for the country and Sheffield region.’

‘Every £1 invested in child health returns more than £10 to society over a lifetime. So, a £20m investment to develop the CCHT has the potential to return more than £200m to the NHS in the future.’

‘It means that once again Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park will be in the spotlight delivering improvements in public health and wellbeing as part of its tangible legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games.’

Paul Dimitri, professor of Child Health and Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology at Sheffield Children’s hospital also said: ‘Children truly matter. Sheffield Children’s Hospital has networks to provide foundation and expertise to accelerate the adoption of technologies developed at CCHT and provide a valuable offering to the private sector to rapidly drive child health technology in the NHS.’

‘Through collaboration and a wealth of commercial opportunities, the CCHT will advance healthcare and provide the platform for the UK to become a world leader in child health technology.’