Deputy Prime Minister samples Halloween treats on offer to children - News - Great Ormond Street Hospital

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited staff, patients and their families at Great Ormond Street Hospital this week as they took time away from focussing on clinical care to celebrate Halloween.

Mr Clegg and his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez first joined a special spooky themed activity party for our haematology and oncology patients. The event, on Lion Ward and Elephant Ward, was arranged for children who were not well enough to venture downstairs to the larger party in the hospital’s dining area (the Lagoon).

The couple then visited the Lagoon where they witnessed the Halloween event in full swing with dozens of staff and volunteers entertaining children and families with singing and dancing, stories, face painting and games. At the party, which was organised by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity in conjunction with the volunteer service, Mr Clegg chatted to a number of families and even helped volunteers give out spooky stickers to some of the younger guests.

During his visit, the Deputy Prime Minister also took a tour of Koala Ward which cares for our neurosurgery and neurosciences patients. He spoke to consultant paediatric neurologist Professor Helen Cross and consultant paediatric neurologist Owase Jeelani about their pioneering work and chatted to ward staff about the experiences and challenges they and the ward face.

On leaving the hospital Mr Clegg said: “I don’t have enough superlatives to describe how impressed I am by the dedication of staff, the heartfelt appreciation and gratitude of the parents and the cutting edge technology all underpinned by this wonderful human touch that everybody seems to have who works here, from the volunteers all the way to the consultants.

“I am a huge, huge fan of what Great Ormond Street Hospital has done. It’s not only a great hospital for children who desperately need the help here, but it’s also a fantastic example of the very best of what we do in this country. GOSH quite rightly has a world-wide reputation for being one of the most outstanding children’s hospitals of its kind.”