Ukrainian children flown to UK for life-saving treatment
A group of 21 children - as well as their immediate families - have been flown to the UK to undertake life-saving cancer treatment following pleas for help from Polish officials.
Sajid Javid, the UK health secretary said the children arrived on an urgent flight on Sunday, and that they would receive the best care in hospitals around the country under the National Health Service (NHS).
“I am proud that the UK is offering life-saving medical care to these Ukrainian children, who have been forced out of their home country by the Russian invasion while undergoing medical treatment,” Mr Javid said.
“I know that the incredible staff in the NHS will ensure they get the best possible care.”
The children were fetched from Poland - where many Ukrainian children have been evacuated to - by nine medics from Southampton Children’s Hospital.
“The families were so incredibly grateful and the stories they told were horrific,” the hospital said.
Dr Michael Griksaitis, who led the team of nine, told the BBC that staff rallied together to gather “all the spare intensive care unit equipment that we have in Southampton, because we had no real idea of what we might find when we landed”.
“Getting the children and their families back to the UK so they can continue with vital treatment and receive whatever further medical help they might need, was the absolute priority,” he said.
It comes as the Russian attack on Ukraine has interrupted the medical procedures of hundreds of Ukrainians as the shellings continue and hospital supplies dwindle.
In response, the UK, Australia and New Zealand are among the many countries that have announced that millions of dollars worth of medical supplies will be sent to Ukraine, as well as food, hygiene items and humanitarian aid.
Image: University Hospital Southampton