Bold designs to brighten up a child's stay at new Sick Kids

Published on Saturday 18 April 2009 11:24

THE first images of what Edinburgh's new Sick Kids Hospital could look like have been released – using animal silhouettes and bright colours to make it a welcoming environment for children.

The images also show a bold interior for the new 30,000 square metre facility planned at Little France.

Nightingale Associates, a firm which specialises in designing healthcare facilities, has been appointed to take the plans forward and it has moved quickly to unveil its provisional ideas.

These include a striking feature above the entrance to the hospital showing farmyard animals, as well as a large open foyer mixing modern balconies and escalators with trees and plants.

Those behind the scheme said although the quality of the building from a healthcare point of view was paramount, it was important to create a child-friendly environment and make children feel like they are anywhere but in a hospital.

The architects will spend another year finalising plans and designs before the two-year construction process begins in 2010, with the hope of opening the 150 million facility in 2012.

Kieren Morgan, the health development director for Nightingale, which recently won a bid to build a large acute hospital in Dumfries, said: "The project will be of immense importance, not just on a national level, but also on an international level.

"It is extremely important that the design of this building reflects the significance of the project. Our solid and far-ranging experience in healthcare architecture ensures that we are well-placed to work closely with NHS Lothian to develop a functional and innovative 21st-century hospital."

NHS Lothian revealed last year that the deal had been struck to move the Sick Kids out of its present location at Sciennes to create additional space and provide a more modern facility.

The new hospital will include an A&E department, day and inpatient care, imaging departments, an outpatient unit, a therapy and theatre suite and a critical care unit. In addition, a free hotel for families will also be provided to allow young patients to have their loved ones close by, even if they have travelled from far afield.

Each patient will have their own room, which will also be equipped with another bed for a sibling or parent to spend the night in if they choose.

A 15 million fundraising campaign has been launched called the New Pyjamas, which will help raise money for equipment and research above and beyond what is already provided by the NHS. Included in that will be a school to allow youngsters to study for and sit exams while receiving treatment.

Links

www.nightingaleassociates.com

www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

www.newpyjamaes.org