Local people have selected a name for a new children’s unit at George Eliot Hospital.
People were asked to vote for a name for the new Children’s Assessment Unit, which is due to open in the summer, and from four choices selected the name’ ‘The Rosie Goodwin Unit’.
Rosie Goodwin is a local bestselling author and many of her books are set in and around Nuneaton. Her latest book, Home Front Girls, focuses on three girls working on Owen Owen shop floor in Coventry at the outbreak of the Second World War.
Rosie was also a placement support worker for social services based in Henry Street Nuneaton until she became published in 2004. As well as working for the department she and her husband were foster carers, a role they continue to perform.
The George Eliot Hospital Children’s Assessment Unit, which will open later in the summer, will provide a range of medical assessment and observational procedures for children and young people under the age of 16 between the hours of 8am-10pm.
The unit is being opened as part of a redesign of paediatric services that followed a consultation into the future of women’s and children’s services led by the Arden Cluster PCT last summer.
George Eliot Hospital’s Chief Executive, Kevin McGee, said: “The hospital has a long association with one of Warwickshire’s most famous authors and it’s great that we can honour another popular local author in this way. Rosie has been a great ambassador for the local area and we’re very proud to be able to name the new unit after her.
“The new unit looks very impressive; it is currently being used as an assessment area for children attending the A&E unit and will start operating in its new capacity as the Children’s Assessment Unit later in the summer.”
Rosie Goodwin said: “This is a great honour and I am delighted that the new unit will be named after myself.”
Dr Nadeem Moghal, Associate Medical Director with responsibility for the development of children’s services, said: “This is an innovative service, one of the first of its kind in the country and one which we expect to set the standard for similar models of care across the country. I’m delighted to be a part of this project which will ensure local children and young people continue to receive a high standard of care from a dedicated paediatric workforce.”
