The newly refurbished paediatric ward at Netcare Garden City Hospital is redefining children’s experience of a hospital admission, thanks to a fun and inspirational new look and feel.
The upgrade is part of Netcare’s ongoing focus on providing state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional clinical quality, and, most importantly, care that is centred around the needs of each and every one of its patients.
“When we undertook the complete renovation of our 20-bed paediatric unit, we needed a person centred design to reflect the interests of our young patients, while ensuring families’ comfort as a home away from home,” says Zeyn Asmal, general manager of Netcare Garden City Hospital which is renowned for specialised children’s medical and trauma care and maternity, among other disciplines.
“In addition to incorporating state-of-the-art medical technology, the redesigned interior of the unit provides our paediatric patients and their parents with a comfortable and appealing environment,” he adds.
The complete overhaul was entirely focused on creating a happier, more welcoming healing environment for paediatric patients, helping to positively shape their experience of healthcare.
“We want to move away from the feel of a traditional clinical environment to minimise the disruption and potential distress of a hospital admission for children. Recognising the psychological component is so important for recovery,” notes Asmal.
| Netcare Garden City Hospital General Manager Zeyn Asmal, Mamsie Nhlenyama of the Department of Health, and Paediatric Unit manager Andronica Zulu are pictured with nurses of the paediatric unit that was recently upgraded. |
| The walls of the paediatric unit have been adorned with colourful murals by local graphic designer Dori Viljoen of RedRoom Creative depicting inclusive representations of various careers inspired by superheroes. |
Now, kids are surrounded by contemporary murals of characters that are relatable and interesting for children, creating a more homely feel.
Paediatric unit manager Andronica Zulu says that the new aesthetic is proving popular with the young patients and their parents alike. “The fresh bright colours and pictures of people in different careers are really appealing to the children, helping to lift their spirits and imagine the possibilities their future holds beyond their present recovery,” Zulu says.
Gentle and attentive nursing staff, led by Zulu, are highly experienced in paediatric care and ensure each child’s individual needs are met under close medical observation 24 hours a day. The core value of care underpins state-of-the-art technology, including electronic medical records, and the medical expertise of the respected multidisciplinary team of specialists practising at the hospital.
"The paediatric ward is yet another milestone in the history of paediatric care at the hospital. The hospital has always been highly regarded by medical professionals and the public alike in the area of paediatric care. One of the reasons for this is the historically stable and long-term relationships that the hospital has enjoyed with our healthcare professionals and the communities we serve.
“Many very ill children have been treated by the exceptional healthcare team here, and many lives have been saved. The staff have worked for many years to maintain their outstanding relationships with doctors and deliver an exceptionally high standard of patient care, accompanied by our renowned Trauma Society of South Africa (TSSA) accredited level 2 trauma centre with paediatric centre of excellence,” Asmal says.
“We often develop a close relationship with the parents of our little patients, and we know how anxious families are when their children are ill or in need of any medical intervention. We do our best to support them and help make the whole experience less intimidating for children – after all, we are looking after the next generation of potential nurses, doctors, teachers and leaders,” Zulu says.
The walls of the unit are covered with colourful murals by graphic designer Dori Viljoen of RedRoom Creative, aimed at inspiring youngsters in hospital with inclusive representations of different careers – from astronauts and scientists to artists and bakers.
“When we were developing the graphics, our aim was to capture a range of characters so that everyone can find one who they relate to. I took inspiration from our everyday superheroes, presenting them as more attainable versions of the traditional superhero genre,” Viljoen says.
Asmal, who is a father of young children himself, understands the weight of a parent's worry when their child needs medical care. "As a parent, you never want to see your child in a hospital bed. But when it's unavoidable, I want families to find comfort in knowing that Netcare Garden City Hospital is filled with people who will care for their children as if they were their own," he shares.
“It is our hope that, apart from providing a pleasant backdrop to healing, the role models depicted in these murals may help to plant a seed in children’s imaginations, inspiring them to dream big and imagine their future selves, healthy and achieving their ambitions,” Asmal concludes.
Ends.
Notes to editors
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Issued by: MNA on behalf of Netcare Garden City Hospital
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