Official account of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, sharing stories from our patients, families & staff.
Monitored Mon-Fri
Charity:
@GOSHCharity
We’re thrilled to see the first-ever targeted treatment for brain tumours in children approved for
#NHS
patients, after 20 years of dedicated research by GOSH consultant Professor Darren Hargrave 🌟
See how this new
#cancer
treatment came to be 👇
We’ve an incredible story to share with you: conjoined twins Safa and Marwa have been successfully separated – the first such procedure at
@GreatOrmondSt
since 2011! Discover their extraordinary story. 🎉🏥
The following statement is made in response to allegations made across social media in relation to antisemitism awareness training being planned by the Trust.
Meet our 11-year-old prom queen Sarah, who is currently on the waiting list for a heart transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Unable to go to her prom, Flamingo ward helped Sarah celebrate and graduate from Primary School to Secondary School inside the hospital walls 🌺👑
Our wonderful cardiac nurse, Beth, surprised
@MichaelRosenYes
today.🧡
In 2020, Beth transferred from GOSH to an adult hospital to support care for COVID-19 patients, including Michael. Two years later, they meet again.
How lovely is their reunion?!👇🏾
'You've got this! Look forward to meeting you when you wake up!'
We surprise
@MichaelRosenYes
with one of his hero nurses who wrote notes in his patient diary throughout his long battle in Covid. The disease, which nearly killed him, kept him in intensive care for 48 days.
We're celebrating
#170YearsOfGOSH
!
On this day in 1852 we opened our doors for the first time. From our small beginnings of just ten beds, we now treat around 600 seriously ill children, from all over the UK, every day.
Thank you Russel Square for the birthday wishes! 🎉 👏
Congratulations to
@GreatOrmondST
nurse Beth for an amazing performance on
@BGT
tonight!
Beth wrote her own beautiful song, inspired by GOSH families, the special bonds they share and how love keeps everyone going through tough times. 💙(1/2)
#BGT
#NHSheroes
#SingingNurse
An inspiring performance from Beth Porch 🌈
She's releasing 'You Taught Me What Love Is' to raise money for
@NHSCharities
and
@GOSHCharity
❤️
Click here for more info and to download the track:
@GreatOrmondSt
#BGT
We are deeply saddened to hear that Paul O’Grady has died. Paul's warmth and kindness to our children, their families and our staff was ever present during his visits to our hospital. We're thinking of Paul’s loved ones at this very sad time.💙
Surgeons from GOSH and
@uclh
have carried out their first two operations on babies with spina bifida, while they’re still in the womb – a first in the UK.
Both mums and babies are doing well.
We're sharing some inspirational news about a world-first paediatric heart transplant technique that reanimates the heart outside of the body. 💓
The technique has successfully expanded the donor pool & increased the number of transplants for eligible children in the UK by 50%
"Together we have built our private world, a bond between mother and son which goes deeper than most – we are unbreakable."
@KatiePrice
's deeply personal documentary features Harvey's care at GOSH, and his journey towards transitioning to adult services. 💙
Watch Harvey and I in our new
@BBCOne
documentary - Katie Price: Harvey and Me on BBC One, Monday 25th January at 8:30pm.
Harvey overcomes mountains and obstacles everyday that other people take for granted. Being a single parent of a disabled child is a badge of honour for me!
For kids coming to GOSH right now, things look a little different – which can cause anxiety. Play worker Ellie uses Makaton to explain to patients why doctors and nurses are wearing protective equipment to keep everyone safe. 🏥 👩⚕💗
#PowerOfPlay
Today we’re celebrating our Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) at GOSH. AHPs give treatment to rehabilitate patients. There are 14 types of AHPs, from music therapists to radiographers. Take a look at their varying roles!
#AHPsDay
@GOSHLearnAcad
This
#MothersDay
is different to most and our warm wishes go out to all GOSH parents at this difficult time.
GOSH patient Omer will be making his mum some pancakes today! 🥞 "I will try and make them special for her! With marshmallows, Nutella and strawberries!" he says.
6 months ago, after all other treatments for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia had failed, Alyssa became the first person in the world to receive base-edited cell therapy as part of a clinical trial at GOSH &
@UCLchildhealth
. Meet Alyssa & the research team behind the trial 👇
❔ Do you know anyone aged 16 to 19 who's interested in studying medicine?
🌟 Applications for our Young Visitors Programme are now officially open!
We're offering NHS shadowing opportunities across a variety of specialties.
Learn more on our website:
5-year-old Otto was recently treated at GOSH for a cancerous brain tumour.
Earlier today, he rang his end of treatment bell! 🔔🙌
We’re wishing Otto and his family all the best💙
It's the moment we've all been waiting for. We're SUPER excited to announce our new
#GOSHxSuperhope
league!
Recently, nine patients undergoing cancer treatment worked with
@superhope_org
to help reveal the superheroes within. 🦸🦹💥⚡
Our hospital has declared a Climate and Health Emergency. Our mission is simple: to reduce the emissions we directly control to net zero by 2030. By 2040, we want the emissions we influence to be at net zero. (1/2) 🍃💚
Tune in to
@Alex_Brooker
’s fantastic new documentary on
@BBCTwo
this Sunday at 9pm, which sees the comedian return to GOSH as an adult and recollect with fondness his experiences of being a patient at our hospital. 🏥 👨⚕️ 👩⚕️ 💙
Sometimes, love just can't wait.💕
Our NICU team came together to make dreams come true for two incredible parents recently. Peata and Ash were married on Alligator ward, with a very special best man at their side:
We are deeply saddened to hear that Her Majesty The Queen has died. Our hearts go out to the Royal Family, and everyone else affected by this huge loss.
As Patron of the hospital, Her Majesty was a source of inspiration to our staff, patients, and families.
Hello world 👋 Welcome to the new
@TwitterUK
feed for Great Ormond Street Hospital. We’ll be tweeting stories from our remarkable patients, their families, and our amazing staff helping children fulfil their potential 🏥👩⚕️👨⚕
A big thank you to all the car parks providing parking to our staff during this time. Particular thanks to
@Imperial_Hotels
for keeping your space open for us and to
@coramsfields
, where security guard Rob is offering biscuits & sweets to staff today as they go into work! 🚗🍬😀
Today is our birthday, and we're 169.🎂
Last year was a year like no other, and we're thankful for our staff & volunteers for their services, and our patients & families for always making us smile. ☺️
Patient James and his family are here to sing and sign us a happy birthday!🌟
Happy 167th birthday GOSH! 🥳To celebrate we're giving you the chance to (virtually!) explore the hospital with our new
#virtualreality
film.
From the main entrance, to surgical theatres, to the chapel, take a look around 👀
#GOSHVR
Surgery in the womb for spina bifida has stopped paralysis in dozens of babies.
This surgery has been continued by
@NHSEngland
throughout the pandemic. Most recently, on six-week old Mila.
A collaboration between ourselves,
@UCLH
and
@UZLeuven
.
(1/6)
This Halloween, we're wishing GOSH patient
@BlakesWheels
(aka the Halloween Wizard) a super 14th birthday.🙌 Blake's dressed up as his GOSH surgeon, Professor Paolo De Coppi. We think he looks fang-tastic!
Thanks, Play Team, for bringing the Halloween spirit to all our wards.🎃
“Children and young people shouldn’t miss out on special experiences because they are unwell.”
Life sized puppets from the
@NationalTheatre
's highly acclaimed
@WarHorseOnStage
made a surprise visit to patients yesterday, as part of our
@GOSH_Arts
programme. 🐎
#WarHorse
Happy 172th Birthday, GOSH!🎉
That's 172 years of leaps in
#medical
science,
#research
and
#innovation
, made possible by the hard work and expertise of GOSH staff since our opening in 1852.💙
See our progress in pictures:
Thanks, Russel Square
@TfL
!💙
Happy
#InternationalNursesDay
to our incredible nurses.
We can't thank you enough for all you do to take care of our patients and their families at GOSH.💙🏥
#ThankYouNurses
We know air pollution can have a devastating impact on children's health.
That's why we've teamed up with
@imperialcollege
to link air pollution data from where patients live to their medical records. Find out more about why we're doing this ➡️
We're delighted to celebrate Lizzie Penn, one of our Senior Play Specialists. She's just been named the national 2022
@WellChild
Award winner for 'Outstanding Professional'!👏 (1/4)
"I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it's really special to stand up for that."
Powerful message for all surgery patients from Princess Eugenie on
#RoyalWedding
day – be proud of your scars 👊🙌💪
"I’m forever thankful [to GOSH]. In particular, for the material, because ‘big hands’ and ‘two legs’, it’s boring - there’s no fun in that!"
#thelastleg
star
@alex_brooker
says welcome to the channel, and thanks GOSH for his treatment 👍
Wonderful news! 🎉 Nurse Lindy, who dedicated her 42-year career to GOSH’s neurosurgical department, has been awarded an MBE in the 2024
#NewYearsHonours
list! ✨
Read more about Lindy's story 👉
We'd just like to say a huge thank you to all those businesses & individuals, big and small, across the nation, who are providing support to our staff & the wider NHS with a host of lovely gestures.
#CaringForThoseWhoCare
. Together we are stronger in these unprecedented times.🙏
Who knew a snowfall could make this festive-themed post-box topper near GOSH even more enchanting? Shoutout to the incredible secret elves behind it! ❄️💌
#RandomActsOfCrochetKindness
#UKSnow
Meet Lottie 💙 She had surgery to remove a brain tumour at GOSH when she was 10 years old.
Today, she is training to be a physiotherapist, specialising in paediatric physiotherapy!
#ChildrensHospitalAlliance
#NHS75
With mask-wearing being compulsory in all areas of the hospital for our staff, our lovely EEG (Electroencephalography) team have made badges with a smiling photo to help put patients, families and visitors at ease. What a great idea! 👏
Two thirds of the population didn’t think that arthritis was a childhood rare disease. Joint pain and stiffness is a reality for Amelie, who was diagnosed with juvenile idopathic arthritis at 18 months old.
#RareDiseaseDay
We are thrilled to announce that
@Newsweek
has named us the top paediatric hospital in Europe, as part of their World's Best Specialised Hospitals 2024 list. 🎉
A huge thank you to our amazing staff at GOSH for their dedication and hard work.✨
Best wishes from all at GOSH for a wonderful holiday season and a new year filled with peace and happiness. Matthew Shaw, our Chief Executive, sends his personal message to our patients, their families and our wonderful staff and volunteers.
Four operations, 55 hours of operating time – and a fond farewell! After 9 months of care, the twins and their family left GOSH on 1 July. Safa and Marwa have a long road ahead – but we are hopeful they will be able to live active, happy lives! 👋💗
"Christmas day is such a happy day, and the atmosphere at GOSH is cheery and festive," says Charlotte.
"This is my first Christmas as a qualified nurse and I'm looking forward to it!" says Jenifer.
A big thank you to all our amazing staff that worked over Christmas this year!
Happy new year to all our patients, families, staff and volunteers.
Patient Declan is here to wish us into the new year with his end of treatment bell video.🔔
"We're smiling our way into 2021 knowing our little hero is now cancer free."💙👏
Read on:
Today is
#RareDiseaseDay
. 🧬
At GOSH, we:
🏥 treat over 28,000 children with rare & ultra-rare diseases
🔬 are researching over 200 rare & complex diseases
🧪 use the latest techniques to deliver the best care, letting our patients get on with being children. 🎒🌼⚽️
Spreading some joy this Friday morning...
Here's Teddy, one of our
@PetsAsTherapy
dogs, ready to celebrate a team milestone with
@GOSHCardioResp
. (1/3)
Today we remember GOSH staff we sadly lost to COVID last year.
Staff like Tricia Bennett, Head of Nursing for Blood Cells & Cancer, made a huge difference to everyone she came across.
Our thoughts are with all our NHS colleagues who have been deeply impacted by COVID-19.
#OneTeam
An incredibly moving piece from past-GOSH patient
@WillBayleytt
and his mum Chrissie describing Will's childhood cancer, his gold medal winning Paralympic career and having to pull out of
@bbcstrictly
with injury:
Will - we think you're a superstar! 🌟
Congratulations to the oncology team on GOSH’s Lion Ward, who have won a Solving Kids’ Cancer NHS Hero Award. They were nominated by the family of patient Daya. “You’ve touched our lives and our hearts. Daya wouldn’t be here without all your efforts. We love you all.” 🦁🧡
Congratulations to Professor Isobel Heyman - who has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Please share your congratulations to Professor Heyman!🎉
Read more:
Scuba Steve is outside the hospital entrance today, to welcome staff, patients and families, and to kindly remind everyone to stay two metres apart at all times.
He's also asked his starfish friends to keep two metres apart, to help guide you safely around the Lagoon.🏥🤿🚶↔🚶🏾
Here are some lovely rainbow displays from
@GreatOrmondSt
! 🌈 The hospital team and their patients value your support, so let’s show them something amazing! Share your rainbows with us – together, how many rainbows can we collect? Let’s raise a smile across GOSH & beyond! 🏥💗
🎉 Exciting news! If you tuned into
@BBCTheOneShow
tonight, you’ll have seen the lovely Paul O’Grady announcing the return of ‘Paul O’Grady’s Little Heroes’, which follows patients, families and staff at GOSH. Tune in: Thurs 12 Sept, 8.30pm on
@ITV
!
Phew! 😊 We've had such a fantastic day at Play Street!
Huge thanks to everyone who made it possible and joined us for
#CleanAirDay
. 👏
Here's a quick look at what we got up to 👇
Across the UK, there are approximately 150 children on the
#Transplant
List.
40 of those are
@GreatOrmondSt
patients needing heart, lung and kidney transplants.
To raise awareness, we made this amazing video!
#OrganDonationWeek
After 10 years of research, GOSH surgeons have carried out pioneering eye gene therapy treatment for a rare form of genetic blindness.👁️
Researchers found a way to treat the condition, Leber Congenital Amaurosis-4 (LCA4), using a virus to add the missing DNA to their retina
(1/3)
"Ring this bell
Three times well,
it's toll to clearly say:
'My treatment's done,
the course is run,
and I am on my way."
An emotional end of treatment ring for GOSH patient Jamie and his mum Tessa. We wish Jamie all the best! 👏🙏💕
"Each time I volunteer I come away feeling inspired at the courage of both the children and their families"
A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers across GOSH today, on
#InternationalVolunteerDay
. We couldn't do it without you! 😃
We are saddened to hear of the death of Professor Marc de Leval.
A Professor of cardiothoracic surgery, he joined GOSH in 1969 and retired in 2006, having spent 32 years at our hospital. He conducted the first heart transplants at GOSH from 1988 onwards. (1/2)
“I think music speaks to everyone’s soul. When kids and families are going through the toughest time, it brings a bit of normality and joy.”
Meet nurse Beth, who caused an online sensation this week after performing a Mcfly song for patient Artie: 🙌🎶
Please help me find my owner 🐻
I was found by the main entrance this morning. If you’ve lost me please pop to reception where I’m currently hanging out!
Happy 96th birthday to Her Majesty The Queen!🎂
We first welcomed
#QueenElizabeth
II in 1952 as part of our hospital's centennial celebrations.
She became our Patron in 1965, and in 1977, the Queen observed our first MRI scanner in action.👇🏿
Happy Birthday Your Majesty!
Today as The Queen turns 96, we’re sharing this photograph of the young Princess Elizabeth aged 2.
Then, in 1928, it was never expected she would be Queen, and this year Her Majesty is celebrating her
#PlatinumJubilee
- a first in British history.
We're delighted that Zainab and Jannat celebrated their 16th birthdays last week. They were born conjoined and received pioneering surgery at GOSH when they were just 6 weeks old. They're now hoping to study medicine and law at University 🙌🏽🎉🎊
"My job is to help young people find joy, resilience and self-expression through music. I can’t think of a better place to do that than GOSH," says Katya, our first full-time Music Therapist.
Katya helps patients reach their physical, emotional, cognitive and social goals.
We are so saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Barbara Windsor, she was a close friend of the hospital & a passionate
@GOSHCharity
Ambassador. She will be missed. Dame Barbara always thought of our patients first, hear her narrating ‘Koalas in trouble’.
He’s home! 🏡
After being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy last year, GOSH patient James had a heart transplant during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re delighted to say he’s now doing well. Good luck with your recovery, James! 💛
#OrganDonationWeek
“I feel so fortunate to be recognised for doing a job I love."
We're ecstatic that GOSH Healthcare Scientist
@GirlyMicro
has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in this year’s New Year’s Honours list.
Please share your congratulations to Elaine!🌟
Each evening this week we will be lighting up our hospital entrance green. We want to ensure that every patient, family and staff member who walk through our doors know that we support their wellbeing, this
#mentalhealthawarenessweek
and always 💚
We're bidding farewell to our wonderful entrance as we make way for the construction of our new Children's Cancer Centre. 💙
Let's take a moment to appreciate some of the incredible designs created by GOSH Arts over the years. 🎨
Do you have a favourite design?
We're so grateful to every member of the GOSH family, past and present, who have helped make GOSH and the
#NHS
such a wonderful place 💙
From all of us at GOSH, happy
#NHS75
!
GOSH condemns the hateful, racist comments directed at England footballers who had the courage to take a penalty at the climax of Sunday’s game. At GOSH, we’re proud to champion diversity and inclusion. Saka, Rashford, Sancho – we have your backs. 🙌
We'd like to give a big shout out and thank you to our lovely nursery team, who are looking after the children of GOSH staff, so that they can continue to care for our patients and families during this time. 😊💙
#CaringForThoseWhoCare
To keep everyone safe, our hospital staff are wearing masks and other protective equipment which might make them look a little bit different than usual. They're still spreading cheer and taking great care of you while you're in hospital.👪💙👩⚕️
Thanks to the work of our incredible staff, ten-year-old John was able to ring his end of treatment bell in December after treatment for Burkitt lymphoma.
Join us in wishing Jake a very Merry Christmas! Jake’s treatment for a rare form of cancer ended just a few weeks ago and he'll now be monitored regularly by the expert teams at GOSH 🏥Jake and his family are looking forward to spending Christmas together🎄
#HomeforChristmas
Patient Jessica worked hard last week with Music Therapist Katya, to sing and play “happy birthday” for our hospital. Giver her a round of applause! 👏 💓
Since moving wards, GOSH patient Isaac hasn't been able to see his best friend on his old ward. Now, to keep in touch, they pass paintings & messages to each other via the Play team.🎨
"They're always there to cheer each other up," says his mum, Liz.💙
#InternationalFriendshipDay
We had a paw-some new visitor on the wards this week! Our newest therapy dog Henry successfully completed his first week on the job, visiting patients and staff to brighten their days. Congratulations Henry! 🐶
@PetsAsTherapyUK
Four-month-old Florentina has become GOSH's 50th patient to receive a life-saving thymus transplant.
GOSH is one of two centres in the world to perform thymus transplants, where tissue after heart operations are donated to children born without a working thymus gland. (1/2)
“I still learn something new every day.”
Congratulations to Leopard and PICU Play Specialist Lizzie Penn, who’s celebrating 20 wonderful years at GOSH today! 🍾
The ride has begun! 👏🚴Huge luck to our
#GOSH
team of staff and patients as they embark on their 540 mile trip to
#COP26Glasgow
.
They'll cycle from GOSH all the way to Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children to raise awareness of the
#CimateCrisis
. 👉
It's
#WorldCancerDay
, and we’re sharing a special friendship between two patients at
@GreatOrmondSt
– Eden and Siobhan. They’ve been best friends since their diagnosis with a rare childhood cancer. Two years on, they still see each other in hospital and at play dates 🎲🎮
“You’re not alone." 💙
This is 13-yr-old Alyssa celebrating her 'Cell Day' 6 months ago. She made history when she received base-edited CAR T-cells as part of a clinical trial at GOSH. We wanted to share Alyssa's message of support for others going through similar treatment 👇
Patients were taken on a magical, watery, musical journey in the hospital’s hydrotherapy pool, thanks to
@GOSH_Arts
, the Physio Team & theatre company
@OilyCart
!
The immersive, interactive, multi-sensory show ‘Splish Splash’ was integrated into patient’s planned hydrotherapy. 🌊
Who spotted GOSH Staff Nurse Beth and GOSH mum Gemma on
@GMB
today? Last week, Beth caused an online sensation when a video of her singing McFly's 'It's All About You' to Gemma's son, Artie, got thousands of shares online.
Here's another rendition from Beth! 😎🎤🎵🎸🌟
What a magical delight it was to welcome the lovely Rupert Grint and
@TomFelton
to GOSH last week! Huge thanks both for sprinkling an abundance of festive cheer across the wards. Here they are lighting up the day for patient Christabel on Alligator Ward. 🧙♂️👏
Our wonderful Head of Chaplaincy, Jim, is saying goodbye to GOSH after 17 years 🌟
Jim has been a pillar of strength for patients, families and staff at some of their most difficult times, and at special moments too.
Thank you for everything, Jim. You will be hugely missed.💙
Congrats to cardiologist & transplant physician, Jacob Simmonds, who has been nominated by 15 year old patient Anna for a Daily Mail Health Hero award, for going above & beyond to bring a new transplant technique into GOSH! 🙌
Happy
#CleanAirDay
! A big thank you to all the patients, families, staff and the local community who have helped us tackle
#airpollution
the fun way today, transforming the outside of the hospital into safe play street full of games and cheer! 🎨🌈🥳🌳🙂
#playmatters