London,12th August 2009 : As part of Her fact-finding tour to visit children’s hospitals across Europe this summer, to assist with the development of the Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital and following her visit to the Aachen University Hospital in Germany last month, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday visited two children’s hospitals in London; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and Evelina Children’s Hospital at Guys’ and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Accompanying Princess Haya on the visit was HE Mr. Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General, Dubai Health Authority.

The Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital in Dubai, will be the first dedicated children’s hospital in the United Arab Emirates. Princess Haya, in each of her visits has discussed best practice in patient care, the fundamental importance of research initiatives and of first-rate medical education as a means to achieve excellence in paediatric healthcare services.

At the Great Ormond Street Hospital, the first institution in the UK to offer inpatient care to children only, Princess Haya and Mr. Al Murooshid were received by Dr. Jane Collins, Chief Executive, Dr. Barbara Buckley, Co-Medical Director and Trevor Clarke, Director of International Services.

As part of the tour, they learned of the hospital’s history since its inception in 1852 and visited areas of the hospital that relate to the future specialties of the Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, including the Cancer ‘&’ BMT Facilities, the Cardiac Services and the Mental Health Services.

At the Evelina Children’s Hospital at Guys’ and St Thomas’, Princess Haya and Mr. Al Murooshid were greeted by Eileen Sills, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nurse; Dr. Grenville Fox, Clinical Director for Children’s Services; and Mr. Murdoch Graham, International Business Development Manager for Corporate Development.

During their visit, they were given a brief synopsis of the hospital after which they were escorted to the Clinical Trials Unit where Dr. Michael Perkin, Consultant, Paediatric Allergy, provided more insight into existing food challenges, such as the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) study and the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) project.

In addition to touring the various treatment units at the hospital, Princess Haya and Mr. Al Murooshid visited the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and listened to a brief introduction by Dr. Ian Murdoch, Head of Service Paediatric Intensive Care and Consultant, on the developments and improvements of the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Throughout her visit, Princess Haya re-emphasised the importance of collective learning and sharing of knowledge between nations. “The exchange of ideas between cultures and countries around the globe is necessary for the well being of the world and for the future of all our children. I share everyone’s belief that children are the most precious gifts and we must continue to nurture, protect and provide every single one of them with a life full of laughter, hope and love. If they are ill then we must guarantee them the highest standards of clinical care in the most suitable and caring settings.”