A LUXURY car manufacturer has provided a unique service for a vehicle used by children who are having an operation.
A Rolls-Royce SRH that belongs to St Richard's Hospital in Spitalfield Lane, Chichester, which has driven more than 2,000 children to surgery, has been recalled to have its 100,000m service, that's metres, not miles.
Linda Collins, day surgery unit sister, said: "The servicing of our mini Rolls-Royce is perfect timing as we transition out of Covid restrictions and begin to restore our paediatric surgical services. Once again, our youngest patients can experience the full use of the car as part of their journey to surgery.
"This helps to take the emphasis away from the procedure they're undergoing and focus on the unique experience of driving a genuine Rolls-Royce while being safely supervised through the hospital corridors.
"A huge thank you to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars for helping to keep our beloved little car in tip-top condition."
The car was built in 2017 when the hospital asked Rolls-Royce if it could repair the original theatre transport, a plastic electric Jeep, that had to be scrapped after one too many traumatic injuries of its own. Rolls-Royce declined the opportunity to fix the Jeep and instead offered to create a brand new one.
A small team designed and constructed a bespoke bodyshell in fibreglass reinforced with carbon fibre. The two-tone paint job was applied exactly as it would be on a full-size version of the car.
The seat was hand-made from wood, with padding upholstered in medical-grade vinyl, hot‑welded to eliminate seams that could trap dirt. The team also designed a custom aluminium footwell that lifts out for cleaning.
Specialists from the Bespoke Team and other technical and craft departments at Rolls Royce's headquarters in The Drive, Westhampnett, Chichester, carried out work on the car to return it to its original condition.
Andrew Ball, head of corporate relations for Rolls Royce, said: "In its design, materials and manufacture, this really is a Rolls-Royce in miniature.
"That it has come through four years and 2,000 journeys in its challenging work environment so relatively unscathed is a testament to the care and attention to detail that went into its construction.
"It's very rare that a motor car returns to the Home of Rolls-Royce to have scuffs and scrapes buffed out of its paintwork, and in this instance, we're entirely untroubled. It shows that the car is being used and enjoyed, which is ultimately what every Rolls-Royce is for.
"We're delighted to provide ongoing support for this unique car and its very special owners and drivers."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here