Children to have hand in new Sick Kids design

Published on Monday 7 December 2009 08:43

CHILDREN are to be given a key role in designing the new Sick Kids hospital – which health chiefs claim will be the best in the world.

NHS Lothian today unveiled the official "concept design" for the 150 million project which is expected to open in the spring of 2013.

The designs show the hospital sitting on the existing main car park at the ERI with replacement parking spaces being created elsewhere on the Little France site.

That will allow the new children's hospital to share where appropriate the latest equipment and technology with the A & E at the ERI, yet still retain a welcoming environment for young patients.

Health chiefs have been consulting young patients on their plans and these first basic designs will be road-tested against their hopes and expectations.

The design includes child-friendly features such as windows placed at a height youngsters can see out of and plenty of places to hide and play in the common areas of the hospital.

Isabel McCallum, the project clinical director, said: "It will be hospital-like, but geared towards children and young people.

"What we want to make sure is we have consulted with people for whom the purpose of the hospital is to support."

The aim is to create a world-leading hospital, similar to those popping up across the US, but retaining the warmth and homely feel of the current building at Sciennes, something critics say is missing from American children's hospitals.

Asked if she was aspiring to create something similar to any of the new paediatric hospitals being built around the world, she stated: "I am sure we will be better than them all."

The number of beds won't increase at the new hospital, although greater flexibility with wards and layout will enable improved and more efficient care.

A family hotel for those who can't travel back and forth on a daily basis to be close to their children will also be included on the site, as will extra beds beside patients in the hospital itself.

Around 70 per cent of the hospital will be single-room with en-suite facilities, and education provision will also be improved.

The hospital will be supported by an initial 15 million donation from the New Pyjamas campaign, which is the charity set up to pay for equipment and research over and above health board budgets.

Project director Brian Currie added there were also some environmental considerations. He said: "It will certainly be a greener building than it would have been even 15 or 20 years ago."

The plans will be submitted for approval from the council early next year once the consultation session is concluded.