Children from across Cambridgeshire have visited the site of the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital as work begins to prepare for construction.

Cambridge Children’s Hospital will be the first specialist children's hospital for the East of England.

It will be unique in bringing together the treatment of mental and physical health under one roof, alongside world-leading research.

Children and young people involved in the Cambridge Children’s Hospital project enjoyed a the visit to the future hospital site on April 12.

Since Cambridge Children’s Network was launched three years ago, dozens of children, young people, and families from all over the East of England have been involved in shaping the new hospital’s design.

Wisbech Standard: Walter, aged six, says he is excited about the new hospital.Walter, aged six, says he is excited about the new hospital. (Image: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)

Children aged 6-13 arrived with their parents and carers to hear Chris Wakefield from Cambridge Archaeological Unit discuss the history of the landscape.

Behind him, archaeologists were busy scraping away layers of earth to reveal the Bronze Age and Roman field systems beneath. 

The talk was followed by a 'show and tell' of artefacts found on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and the wider Cambridgeshire area, with children and teenagers having a go at making their own Roman-style pots.

Wisbech Standard: Children heard from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit's Chris Wakefield who discussed the history of the landscape.Children heard from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit's Chris Wakefield who discussed the history of the landscape. (Image: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)

Walter, aged six, and a member of the Cambridge Children’s Hospital Network, said: “I am excited about the new hospital as there will be more toys and I won’t be so bored.

“I hope there will be some cool paintings on the wall. It was cool learning about the Roman pottery, and I got to make the best pot of my life.”

Later in the afternoon, members of the Youth Forum (teenagers aged 14-18) enjoyed a site visit and first face-to-face meeting.

They were able to visualise a new hospital’s school and how to reintegrate back into mainstream school after being poorly.

Chaired by Fintan, 16, the team talked openly and honestly about their own healthcare experiences.

Ann aged 17 and member of the Cambridge Children’s Hospital Youth Forum said: “Meeting people from the Youth Forum in person was definitely a rewarding experience, as we quickly bonded and generated some excellent ideas together”.

Luke, aged 16, and member of the Cambridge Children’s Hospital Youth Forum added: “Ideas becoming reality.  This will make such a massive difference from when I was in hospital, mixing physical and mental health together in a state-of-the-art designed building. Being there and seeing the progress was just amazing.”

Pre-construction works are underway to prepare the land for full construction which is set to begin later in 2025.