Extra funds to be allocated to national child health centre

Plans to build a centre for child health at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park have progressed with extra funding set to be approved.

Sheffield City Council intends to pass £8.8m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for regeneration in Attercliffe to Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

The National Centre for Child Health Technology forms a key part of the council’s Attercliffe Levelling Up Fund plans.

A decision on the funding is set for approval at a meeting of the council’s finance and performance policy committee.

A report to the committee explains the project aims to deliver the “world’s most advanced and integrated healthcare system for children, bringing together industry, academia, clinicians, patients and families to create high-value child healthcare products at pace”.

The report adds the scheme will “accelerate development” of the Olympic Legacy Park, creating “high-value” jobs and developing new companies.

It also said the project would generate more than £2bn of value for the region’s economy.

The council has previously agreed to a 250-year lease of the land to the NHS trust, with building work due to start next month.

The centre has so far received £22m worth of funding, including money from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and the Children’s Hospital Charity.

Once operational, the centre will help create a healthier future for children and young people through innovation, technology and outstanding care.

It will have dedicated spaces and facilities needed to design, create and test new child health technologies.

This will include a gait and motion laboratory featuring a Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN), and a Creative Manufacturing Zone with 3D printing, robotics, laser cutting and other technology tools to develop prototypes.

There will also be an Intelligent Home and Intelligent Ward, which will create simulated real-life environments for testing technologies.