New Neuroservices And Medical Specialties Wards at Starship

29July 2013

New And Improved Neuroservices And Medical Specialties Wards at Starship Create Family-Centred Environment

Starship Children’s Health celebrates the opening of two completely refurbished wards on Friday – marking a new era for the treatment of New Zealand children with a wide range of complex illnesses and injuries.

The re-build of level 6 at the national children’s hospital will benefit more than 2,200 young patients treated each year on the Neuroservices and Medical Specialities Wards. Children and young people with conditions including neurological disorders, brain tumours, metabolic and genetic disorders (including Cystic Fibrosis), head trauma, liver and kidney illness and transplants, respiratory illnesses and infectious diseases.

The renovations took eight months and cost $6 million to complete. More than
$5 million of the funding required was provided by Starship Foundation donors.

The re-build shows how Starship Children’s Hospital is taking a broader approach to health care by placing more importance on emotional care of patients, providing a better environment for families and parents to support their children while they are receiving care and better working conditions for staff.

Designed in consultation with staff, patients and families, the modern, family-friendly wards include an increase in the number of single rooms for children to provide more privacy, fold-down beds and couches in patient rooms to allow an accompanying parent or caregiver to stay and support their child, improved playroom facilities to help occupy children positively, new bathroom facilities, two parent lounges with kitchen/bathroom facilities, six intensive observation beds, plus upgraded air conditioning.

Dr Richard Aickin, Director of Child Health at Starship, says, “Starship was built 21 years ago and the demands of providing modern paediatric healthcare have changed during that time. The newly upgraded wards not only provide staff with improved facilities to deliver world-class health care but also an enhanced environment for parents to support their children, which is an important part of the treatment process. It is about accommodating the clinical needs of staff and children while ensuring that the emotional requirements of families are recognised.”

The project was not without its challenges, with many families and staff relocated to other parts of Starship or Auckland City Hospital during construction. Considerable planning took place to ensure quality-of-care across both hospital sites was maintained throughout the project. Staff and patients are returning to the new facility this weekend.

Brad Clark, Chief Executive of the Starship Foundation, says the project would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of New Zealand families: “I cannot thank our wonderful donors enough. Every donation, big and small, from every corner of the country has contributed to create a truly world-class facility – a modern, family-centred and uplifting space for patients to receive treatment and our amazing clinical staff who provide it. In particular, I’d like to thank our principal project sponsors – the Mercury Energy Star Supporters Club, Friends of Starship and Sir Graeme and Lady Ngaire Douglas.

The Starship Foundation supporters who contributed to Starship’s rebuild of Level 6 include the Mercury Energy Star Supporters Club, Friends of Starship, Sir Graeme and Lady Ngaire Douglas, Hugh Green Foundation, ASB, Kidney Kids NZ, SKY, Andrew Ferrier and Danielle Guitard, Darren and Tanya Wolfenden, Ted and Mollie Carr Endowment Fund, Wallace Cotton and Ruby Seeto, Lady Marion Davis Hospitals Foundation, Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate, Daisy Trust, EB Games, Longford Charitable Trust, Pacific Equities Limited, Rodmor Charitable Trust, and the Louisa and Patrick Emmett Murphy Foundation. The collective generosity of more than 5,000 individuals across the country also responded to Starship Foundation campaigns to fund the rebuild.

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