Rolls-Royce Creates Model For Paediatric Patients

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has unveiled a seminal new concept crafted for St Richard’s Hospital Paediatric Day Surgery Unit in the marque’s home town of Chichester, West Sussex, England. The aptly named Rolls-Royce SRH will allow children awaiting surgery to drive themselves to the operating theatre, through the Paediatric Unit corridors which are lined with ‘traffic signs’. The experience of ‘self-drive to theatre’ aims to reduce child patient stress.

“We are a proud member of the community here in West Sussex. The Paediatric Unit at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester does such vital work in providing essential care to young people and their families,” said Torsten Müller-Ö tvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “We hope that the Rolls-Royce SRH will serve to make the experience for young people during treatment a little less stressful.”

Since the Paediatric day surgery service was first introduced at St Richard’s Hospital in December 2014, 6,600 children have undergone day surgery procedures.

Created from the ground-up by the Bespoke Manufacturing team, the Rolls-Royce SRH presents is specified with a two-tone paint-scheme of Andalusian White and Salamanca Blue and finished with a hand-applied St James Red coachline.

The interior space is appointed with the same finesse and attention-to-detail afforded to every Rolls-Royce patron, with the two-tone steering wheel, seats and self-righting wheel centres perfectly colour-matched to the St James Red coachline. A top speed of 10mph is achieved in seconds courtesy of power derived from a 24 volt gel battery that propels the car with the same whisper-quietness as Rolls-Royce’s magnificent V12 engines. The speed setting is variable and can be limited to a statelier but no-less exhilarating 4mph.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars welcomed two test drivers from the Paediatric Unit at St Richard’s Hospital, Molly Matthews and Hari Rajyaguru, to the Home of Rolls-Royce. Molly and Hari viewed the car being unveiled in style at the company’s Goodwood Studio in the same manner for all Rolls-Royces VIP customers. This exclusive event served as final validation and pre- delivery inspection of the Rolls-Royce SRH ahead of the official handover to the patients, their families and the devoted day surgery team at St Richard’s Hospital.

Marianne Griffiths, Chief Executive, of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said, “Just like the joy it will bring to our young patients, the Rolls-Royce SRH is simply priceless. It is a very special gift and one of the most wonderful donations ever received by Love Your Hospital, our trust’s dedicated charity. On behalf of everyone at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and especially the small team who volunteered so much of their own time in support of St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester and the children we care for.”