Sunderland legend Niall Quinn today returned to Sunderland to open the revamped wing of Sunderland Royal Hospital named after him.
Nearly half a million pounds – around half of the proceeds of Quinny’s testimonial match, “A Night With Niall”, two years ago – was put towards extending and completely refurbishing the existing childrens’ outpatients department. The newly opened facility can now treat more children, more quickly than previously.
Since his retirement from the game, Quinny moved back to his native Ireland and settled in County Kildare, returning to Britain occasionally for media obligations, mainly punditry for Sky Sports – but today he went to the hospital with wife Gillian for the official opening of the new wing.
At the ceremony, Niall said “It is a special feeling to come here and see the end product. It makes you feel that everything was worth it.
“We remarked in the car on the way here that we’ve left an awful lot behind. When you come and see this building you realise there’s so much goodwill in this part of the world.
“My wife said ‘why did we leave here?”
He had initially insisted in typical Quinny modesty that the wing wasn’t named after him, but eventually relented after the hospital asked for the third time.
“I wasn’t happy about the name at first, but the hospital said the kids might feel better about coming into hospital, so I agreed to let my name go on it,” he said.
“I put my name to something the public put their hands in their pockets to create.”
Consultant paediatrician Dr Geoff Lawson said, “I am sure the children of Sunderland and their parents will be thrilled at this new facility that Niall has so very kindly given to us all.”
Directorate Manager of Paediatrics Julie Bramley said, “The Niall Quinn Children’s Centre is a fabulous asset for medical services to children. We are really grateful to Niall for funding the building and taking time out of his busy schedule to come here to officially open it.”
Quinny also revealed that the opening of the refurbished children’s wing doesn’t mark the end of his fund raising efforts for Sunderland Royal – he wants to help them raise money for a new child protection unit.
“They have sowed the seeds and I will help them out somehow!”
