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Elizabeth Cheung

Having a child and family-friendly design will be a key focus of the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, which is set to open in 2018.
A pool with adjustable depth for hydrotherapy, overnight stay rooms for parents and building floors labelled with animals instead of numbers were just a few of the concepts announced by the hospital’s chief executive Dr Lee Tsz-leung on Tuesday.
“We have to take care of children aged from zero to 18. They are different heights and might also need hydrotherapy for which the level of the pool water must be up to the patient’s waist,” Lee said.
“A three-year-old might also not understand what it means to go to 3/F in a building, but he or she might know if you tell them to go to the floor of monkey.”
The hospital will open with 230 beds in the first phase of operations, and will gradually increase to 468 beds, according to Lee.
Children with serious conditions such as cancer, heart or kidney disease will be the first to be admitted to the facility, which will be located in Kai Tak.
Emphasis was also placed on providing facilities and services for family members in the hospital’s design. Overnight stay rooms for parents will be included in the new facility so that mums and dads will be able to keep close contact with their young ones and medical staff.
Despite Hong Kong experiencing a doctors shortage, the hospital’s chief executive said staffing would not be an issue.
He said 100 doctors and 400 nurses will be brought in to staff the new hospital’s 230 beds ­during the first phase of operations, and he did not expect the number of patients to “significantly increase”.
Medical staff from other hospitals, which specialise children’s care and different severe illnesses, such as the nephrology unit in Princess Margaret Hospital, will be transferred to the new facility.


Design of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital to be a family affair

An artist’s impression of the new Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, which is set to open in 2018. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Computer-generated photos of the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital which will start operating in 2018. Photos provided by Hospital Authority

Dr Lee Tsz-leung, chief executive of the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. SCMP Pictures (Handout)

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

With the opening set for 2018, chief executive reveals details of new facility’s concept and services for patients and parents
