Birthing Centre and PICU, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital

The Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (WKZ) in Utrecht provides expectant mothers with expert care and support during pregnancy and childbirth, and very sick children are cared for in the Intensive Care Unit. Involving parents in the care and treatment of their (newborn) child requires a modernisation of the existing Birthing Centre and PICU. The design of the departments consists of a ward for the admission of (sick) pregnant women, delivery rooms, a maternity ward, the Neonatal Unit, and the Intensive Care Unit. The Neonatal and Intensive Care Units are strategically located next to each other for optimal flexibility.

The WKZ Birthing Centre treats complex conditions and diseases in newborns. In the renovated department, everything revolves around family-integrated care. The WKZ is one of ten hospitals in the Netherlands with a highly specialised Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where newborns receive intensive care. The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) cares for very sick children, often after surgery in the adjacent operating theatre complex. The PICU also provides space for children from the Prinses Maxima Centre, which is connected to the WKZ by a bridge. EGM is designing the complete renovation.

Promoting the bond between parent and child

When parents, in addition to healthcare professionals, take on the care of a vulnerable sick child, this has a positive effect on the recovery process and promotes the bond between parent and child. With single-patient rooms, the new Birthing Centre and the new PICU offer maximum support to seriously ill babies and children and their parents, brothers and sisters. Parents can be with their child in peace and privacy, even at night. A private room contributes to a sense of security and safety - just like at home.

Regulating the level of privacy themselves

The design of the single-patient rooms is such that medical equipment is not immediately visible. By integrating this equipment in an innovative way, children can be held in their parents' arms, while remaining connected to the necessary life-saving medical equipment. Families can themselves influence the atmosphere and appearance of the room. Large glass walls between the private room and the medical area ensure that healthcare staff and the family have maximum contact with each other. In addition, parents can regulate privacy towards the ward with light and window coverings. This self-regulation contributes to a healing environment.

With this renovation, we are focusing on the care of tomorrow. By transforming the hospital into a place where patients, their families and colleagues are central.

_{Josefien Kursten, member of the Executive Board of UMC Utrecht}

Away from the ward's hustle and bustle

The principle of family-integrated care is also felt outside the rooms. The departments are designed in an open and transparent way, with plenty of overview and short distances between them, so that the family and healthcare staff can easily find each other. In relaxing lounges with outdoor space, parents can escape the daily stress. The healthcare staff has its own domain with outdoor space, where they can get away from the ward's hustle and bustle. A breath of fresh air, the sun on their skin or a cool breeze on their face provides the much-needed distraction. From the balcony there is a beautiful view of the adjacent green estate Oostbroek.

Less stress thanks to a friendly environment

Wherever parents are in the Birthing Centre and PICU, they always have a view of the outside. For example, every corridor consistently ends with a window. This contact with the outside contributes to better orientation and reduces stress. Warm colours and natural materials create a friendly environment, in accordance with the Interior Design Quality Plan drawn up by the UMC Utrecht and Atelier Pro.

In the new and renovated departments, we will work differently to provide better family-centered care. We will ensure that our working environment and the care technologies we use are ready for the future.

_{Josefien Kursten, member of the Executive Board of UMC Utrecht}

Making use of each other's single-patient rooms

The renovation of the Birthing Centre and the PICU is combined with new construction. This has major logistical advantages because they can make use of each other's single-patient rooms. This makes the children's hospital maximally flexible and very efficient in the use of the available space. With the new Birthing Centre and the new PICU, the WKZ can offer the best care and treatment to (seriously) ill and newborn children. Together with their parents.