Sculpture unveiled to remember former Rainbow Unit at RSH
An eye-catching sculpture to remember the former Rainbow Unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has been unveiled by children.
The sculpture shows a boy and girl holding hands under a rainbow coloured umbrella and was unveiled at the main hospital entrance on Saturday.
The unit cared for children’s cancer and haematology patients but closed when these services moved over to the new Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford in September.
The sculpture will serve as a lasting physical legacy to remember and celebrate the former unit and was designed by the Rainbow Legacy Task Group, which includes patients, families and staff from the unit.
Former patients, families and staff of the unit gathered on Saturday to see children who attended take hold of a rainbow coloured parachute and pull it away to unveil the sculpture.
Cathy Smith, Women and Children’s Care Group Director at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to have unveiled our new sculpture, which patients, families and staff have worked so hard to create. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this project - our Rainbow Legacy Task Group, artist Rebecca Cresswell, everyone who made a tile in our workshops, J Rogers and Sons for building such a lovely wall and landscaping the area, and our Future Team. We hope that this will become a real focal point for our hospital for many years to come.”
Task group member and mother of former patient, Sally Ann Jones, said: “It’s very emotional coming back but having something here to remember the Rainbow Unit means a lot to us.”
Fellow member and former patient, Tash Martin, said: “I think the sculpture is really nice. I especially like the bow as I designed that bit. I want all my friends to come and see it.”
And Tash’s mum, Beverley added: “It’s lovely, I like where it’s situated and the wall looks great.”
