Therapy spaces at our new children’s hospital
Our new children's hospital is equipped with purpose built therapy spaces to improve our patients experience in hospital.
Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs)
Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs) are the second largest clinical group in our healthcare service at Children’s Health Ireland. HSCPs provide interventions in therapeutic, rehabilitative, re-enablement, health and social care and diagnostic services.
In CHI, these teams are: Audiology, Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Engineering, Clinical Measurement Physiology – Cardiac; Respiratory; and Neurophysiology, Clinical Perfusion Scientist, Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Physics, Medical Science, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Orthoptics, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Radiography, Social Work, Speech and Language therapy, Music Therapy, Play Specialists, Clinical Photography and Pastoral Care.
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Our new children's hospital
In our new children’s hospital, there are many dedicated areas throughout the site that are purpose built to support our HSCP services and enhance the work that they do to improve our patients experience in hospital.
There are lots of outdoor accessible green spaces and gardens with lots of opportunities for children and young people to go outside for some of their treatments e.g. occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.
As well as this, the 3rd floor on the southside of the building is home to many therapy spaces including:
- Creative Arts Therapy
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Play Specialist
Standout features in our therapies space:
Hydrotherapy Pool
One of the standout amenities within the therapies on Level 3 is our hydrotherapy Pool area that is equipped with hoist facilities. Having a hydrotherapy pool on-site is a welcomed first for Children’s Health Ireland and will have an amazing effect on treating many patients with different conditions.
Hydrotherapy is physiotherapy rehabilitation performed in water. A hydrotherapy session involves exercise therapy to help patients achieve a rehabilitation goal (such as strengthening muscles or improving flexibility), as would on-land physiotherapy. The hydrotherapy pool area has a ceiling track hoist that will be able to lift children and young people from the changing room and lower them safely into the pool. The pool has been designed with three different depths, this is to enable children and young people of differing heights to comfortably use the hydrotherapy pool as per their individual needs.
Benefits of hydrotherapy:
- Helps aid pain relief, relaxation, and improved circulation from the temperature
- Water resistance helps strengthen and stretch the patients’ muscles
- The medium allows children to explore a range of movements whilst remaining supported and engaged
- Benefits from physiological effect of immersion in water (cardiovascular, respiratory, & sensory)
Physiotherapy spaces in our new children’s hospital
The therapies area on Level 3 will accommodate multiple physiotherapy gym facilities and there will be access to MDT Therapy Rooms on wards and in OPD spaces. These are new spaces for our staff and will benefit patients and staff working together.
On Level 3 there alone, there is:
- Adolescent gym
- Gymnasium that includes hoist facilities
- Infant Neuro gym
- Sensory Integrated gym
- Infant Orthopaedic gym
There is also a cystic fibrosis gym located on the lower ground level.
Our physiotherapy rooftop gym
Occupational Therapy – Activities of Daily Living (ADL) space
Our occupational therapy service will have a dedicated ADL (Activities of Daily Living) Bathroom and ADL Kitchen which provides a domestic style accessible space, which enables assessment and rehabilitation. Our occupational therapists can use these rooms to work with children and young people to achieve their goals regardless of whether their needs are physical, psychological or social. The OT may teach them new skills, support them to re-learn skills following injury, advise on adapting an activity, or by prescribing a piece of equipment to compensate for skills they might find difficult.
3D model of Activities of Daily Living Kitchen
Music Therapy – Dedicated space and recording room
Music therapy in the hospital will have a base on the 3rd Floor in the NCH with a purpose-built music therapy room and adjoining recording room.
Patients of all ages can benefit from music therapy; in the hospital setting it can support patients with medical symptoms such as pain management and be used for distraction. Music therapy is an evidence based clinical intervention and uses music to achieve health goals. Our music therapists assess patients’ needs, design and deliver therapeutic interventions, and review progress.
Our music therapist will also deliver service in areas throughout the hospital particularly in inpatient wards.
One of our music therapy spaces