Welcome to RACH!
This website aims to provide all the information you and your family will need before, during and after your visit to Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH).
For information on preparing your child for their hospital visit, please go to our Coming To Hospital page and our Little Journey page.
Our highly skilled, professional staff are here to look after you every step of the way and we are privileged to have the support of a dedicated charity, The Archie Foundation, who provide additional support for young patients and their families.
The team at RACH are on a mission to achieve ‘Magnet’ status, which would see us recognised globally for care excellence and being a truly great place to work! If successful we will be the first children’s hospital in the UK and the first hospital in Scotland to achieve Magnet designation.
We hope you will find this site useful and we look forward to seeing you soon (although we can’t promise that everyone will be singing and dancing like they were on International Nurses Day!).
Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital: Magnet Designation with Distinction
We are proud to announce that on 24th June 2026, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) was awarded Magnet designation with distinction, the highest possible level of international recognition for nursing excellence.
This achievement makes RACH:
- The first children’s hospital in Europe to achieve Magnet designation
- The first hospital in Scotland to achieve Magnet designation
- One of a small number of organisations worldwide to achieve Magnet designation with distinction
Magnet designation with distinction recognises the exceptional care provided by our nursing teams and our commitment to delivering outstanding outcomes for children, young people, and their families. It reflects the dedication, professionalism, and compassion of colleagues across RACH, as well as our focus on empowering staff to lead improvements in care.
The award of Magnet with Distinction was underpinned by 17 exemplars – outstanding examples of practice that demonstrated how RACH nurses translated evidence, research and innovation into exceptional outcomes for children, young people, families and staff. These 17 exemplars demonstrated the remarkable impact of the teams’ work, from shared decision-making and staff-led quality improvement to innovative medicines management, enhanced patient experience, care closer to home, and new approaches to clinical practice.
The Magnet process also highlighted the strong culture within RACH, where staff are encouraged to contribute ideas, influence decisions, and continuously improve the care they provide. Since beginning our Magnet journey, patient and family satisfaction has increased, and staff retention has improved, reflecting our ongoing commitment to creating an outstanding place to receive care and an exceptional place to work.
While we are delighted to have achieved this milestone, Magnet is not a destination. We remain committed to continually learning, improving, and building on our success to ensure children, young people, and families receive the highest quality care now and in the future.
Magnet® Recognition Programme
The Magnet® Recognition Programme is a globally respected designation for nursing excellence, developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet recognises healthcare organisations that demonstrate the highest standards of nursing practice, outstanding patient outcomes, innovation, and a commitment to creating positive work environments where nurses can thrive.
Magnet provides a framework for excellence that benefits patients, families, staff, and the wider organisation. It fosters a culture of shared decision-making, professional development, evidence-based practice, research, and innovation. Nurses are empowered to influence care delivery, lead improvements, and make a meaningful difference to our patients and families. Click here to visit the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® website
