Plans to incorporate themes into children’s hospitals

Work is underway to incorporate fun themes into the design of children’s hospitals to make them more child-friendly.

 

 

According to researchers involved in the project, the reason for this move is to embrace children’s rights and their views into consideration when improving hospitals.

 

Architects designing these themes are expected to put forward their ideas in the coming week.

 

Some child-friendly designs have already been implemented in hospitals in New Zealand, Australia and the U.S and they have all had a positive influence on children’s recovery.

 

Eilish Hardiman, chief executive of the Children’s Hospital Group (CHG), says children who are treated in this environment show significant improvement.

 

“It is evidence-based. It has been demonstrated through evidence-based design that if you create this environment the children are healing faster and they have better outcomes.”

 

In order to make children feel more comfortable, designs that are used in the hospital won't be associated with medicine or treatment in any way. Dublin hospitals will feature themes that children are already familiar with such as a rainforests, aquariums or zoos.

 

Ms Hardiman feels that taking children's opinions and needs into consideration in a healthcare environment can develop a culture for children’s rights across Ireland.