Perth Children’s Hospital to have indoor and outdoor recreation play area

PERTH Children’s Hospital will partner with the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF) to provide a new centre of play and recreation for patients, siblings and their families.

The indoor and outdoor recreation area, known as Fun on Four, will offer a range of age-appropriate activity spaces that will be run by PCHF.

The area will replace Megazone from Princess Margaret Hospital and will allow PCHF – formerly Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation – to continue its tradition of providing support to young patients and their families.

The PCHF has supported the PMH Megazone since 1999.

Foundation chief executive Denys Pearce said Fun on Four would provide young patients and their families an opportunity to create positive experiences at the hospital outside.

“Through Megazone at PMH and now through Fun on Four at Perth Children’s Hospital, the Foundation is committed to funding the creation and operation of comforting spaces for young patients and their families to spend time while they are receiving care in hospital,” he said.

Alexey Ulupov (8) and his brother Mikhail (12) inspected the new Fun on Four area on Tuesday.

Alexey first attended PMH after he had a stroke aged just six weeks.

“At the same time they discovered he had a large intra-abdominal tumour,” his mother Anna said.

“He spent time in intensive care post surgery and then in the infant ward.”

Alexey became a regular at PMH.

“We are lucky to have him alive after the stroke. He had a severe seizure and required brain surgery,” Ms Ulupov said.

She said it was wonderful for children at the hospital to have access to a bright and fun recreation area.

Hospital chief executive Frank Daly praised the work of the Foundation.

“The Foundation has been supporting Megazone for many years and it is great they will be involved in running Fun On Four here,” he said.

“There’s a music room, outdoor play area, cinema, Radio Lollipop – lots of activities for kids. It will be open seven days a week – and for extended hours. Megazone was open Monday to Friday and for less time… There’s something here for young kids and for older kids, up to the adolescents.”

Mr Daly said the PCHF’s work allowed the new fun area to be bigger, better and open more often – and would help families using the clinics on-site.

“This is a great family-friendly space. Parents will be able to come in, get better parking, register that they’ve arrived for an appointment – and then come to wait here in Fun On Four,” he said.

“When it is time for the appointment, they will receive an SMS letting them know,” he said.

Mr Daly said the Health Department was “adamant” they would not take possession of the building until John Holland had it “absolutely ready” to accept patients.