► Created for children’s hospital
► Top speed 10 mph
► Can be limited to 4mph – perhaps wisely!
Rolls-Royce has created this dinky electric SRH for children at St Richard’s Hospital Paediatric Day Surgery Unit in the marque’s home town of Chichester.
Molly Matthews and Hari Rajyaguru are pictured test driving the SRH on the full-scale Rolls-Royce production line ahead of the official handover to the patients, their families and the day surgery team at St Richard’s Hospital.
What’s the story?
The SRH aims to reduce child patient stress by allowing them to self-drive themselves to the operating theatre, through the Pediatric Unit corridors, which are lined with ‘traffic signs’.
Nice. Who built it?
Rolls’ Bespoke Manufacturing team gave over 400 hours of their own time.
Even nicer. What about performance?
Rolls-Royce claims a top speed of 10mph, which is ‘achieved in seconds’.
Is that a good idea in a hospital?
Maybe not. In an effort to protect staff ankles and kneecaps, top speed can be limited to 4mph, which still sounds fairly brisk on a crowded ward.
Any luxury touches?
Typical Rolls cues such as the steering wheel, seats and self-righting wheel centres all being colour-matched to the red coachline are present and correct. The team also utilised 3D printing techniques for the production of the Spirit of Ecstasy and the bespoke paddle controls.
Heart-Warming Quotes Department
Sue Nicholls, Paediatric Matron at Western Sussex Hospitals NSH Foundation Trust, said,: ‘It’s wonderful seeing a smiley face on the way to theatre, rather than an apprehensive one, and everyone caring for children at St Richard’s is so grateful to Rolls-Royce for this unique donation. We know boys and girls alike will love driving it and in the coming years it will help turn a daunting experience into a more fun and enjoyable one for hundreds and hundreds of children.’
‘The Paediatric Unit at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester does such vital work in providing essential care to young people and their families,’ said Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. ‘We hope that the Rolls‑Royce SRH will serve to make the experience for young people during treatment a little less stressful.’
