Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the number of inpatient beds planned for the inpatient oncology and haematology ward at the new Children’s Hospital in Belfast; (ii) the number of individual bedrooms with en suite facilities; (iii) the number of bedrooms classed as isolation rooms; (iv) the number of treatment rooms; (v) the areas available for parents to prepare and store meals within the oncology and haematology ward.
Minister of Health: Haematology and oncology will be a completely distinct department from other services within the New Children’s Hospital. This will include inpatients, outpatients and a Programmed Treatment Unit for outpatients to receive treatment.
The New Children’s Hospital will have physical space for 13 single oncology/haematology beds. At present, Belfast HSC Trust are commissioned for 10 beds, additional investment would be required to increase bed numbers from the current commissioned levels. Without additional investment the new hospital will transfer “as is” with ten funded beds.
All single rooms will have en suite facilities.
Two of these rooms are planned as positive pressure isolation rooms.
The Programmed Treatment Unit will have a bay area for six patients to receive treatment in addition to two bedrooms with en suite facilities. Outpatients will consist of four consultation rooms and one treatment room.
Throughout the floors of the New Children’s Hospital, there are break out areas where families can prepare food. Parent coffee points with kitchenettes are located on each ward of the New Children’s Hospital in a central location. Whilst parents will have an area to make tea/coffee, the storing and preparation of food within the New Children’s Hospital will be restricted to ensure compliance with food hygiene and safety requirements.
ENDS
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