A fully accessible, specially designed children’s play area - the latest major phase of development at Broadoaks Child Development Centre in Leyland, managed by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - has now opened.
The new facility marks another significant milestone in a wider transformational programme at the centre, which has already seen major roof repairs and internal refurbishment works completed to enhance services for local children and families.
Broadoaks is a Trust-owned community facility for children and young people, providing community and neurodevelopmental services across Chorley, South Ribble and Greater Preston. The centre offers specialist assessment, close coordination with partner services, and long-term support.
Over the past two years, the site has undergone extensive improvement works to address longstanding roof-related issues that had created significant operational challenges.
Thanks to Trust investment and the dedicated work of the LTH Estates team - working closely with colleagues at Broadoaks, led by Queen’s Nurse Victoria Atkinson, Matron for Children’s Community and Specialist Nursing - large sections of the roof have been removed and replaced, helping to secure the long-term future of the building.
Alongside this, internal refurbishment works have transformed key areas of the centre. WC and baby changing facilities have been repaired, adapted and modernised, creating three high-quality, fully accessible spaces for patients and families.
Together, these improvements have created a safer, more welcoming and more accessible environment, significantly enhancing the experience for children, families and staff.
Attention then turned to the next and most visible stage of this transformation: a new children’s play area.
Delivered in partnership with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity via its Children’s Fund, and the Trevor Hemmings Foundation, the new play space has been carefully designed to support both play and clinical assessment.
It will provide a vibrant, inclusive environment for children and young people, while enabling clinical teams to carry out more effective physical and neurodevelopmental assessments.
The area features soft, textured safety surfaces in bright colours, as well as a hopscotch grid, climbing nets and musical sensory features – all carefully selected to support therapeutic and developmental needs while creating a fun and engaging experience for patients and families.
Initial feedback has been extremely positive, and Victoria Atkinson, Matron for Children’s Community and Specialist Nursing, said: “The opening of this play area is a really proud moment for everyone involved in Broadoaks. We know how important play is to a child’s development and wellbeing, and this space has been thoughtfully designed to help children feel comfortable, supported and able to express themselves.
“It will make a real difference to the way our teams assess and support children, and most importantly, it creates a positive, welcoming environment for families who use our services.”
Scott Leonard, from the LTH Estates team, added: “I’m incredibly grateful for the charitable support and donations that have been received which have made this development a reality. Designing and delivering this fantastic facility for the children, their parent or guardian, as well as the NHS services and staff based at Broadoaks, in collaboration with the clinical leads and our key partners, has resulted in this brilliant, accessible and inclusive provision.
"I’ve already seen the facility enable and support the NHS services and staff with their work, and how happy the children are when they are playing in the space. It’s clearly having a huge and positive impact, which it will continue to do for many years to come. It’s been great to hear really positive feedback and see it being used by all at Broadoaks."
To support further improvements to Children’s Services through the Children’s Fund, please contact Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity at charity@lthtr.nhs.uk
