There are many physical improvements to the oncology area at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, and one that stands out to staff is the new immuno-compromised family and playroom, which wasn’t available at Royal University Hospital.

The Director of Acute & Subspecialty Children’s Programs, Lucia New, explains that having this room means children taking cancer treatments who have low immunity, now have a place to go, rather than having to stay in their rooms.

The oncology area is also in a low traffic area, meaning other patients and families aren’t traveling through, limiting the chance of infection.

As a bonus, it also makes it quieter. As is the case for all of the patient rooms, they are all private and larger, leaving room for parents to stay.

Dr. Roona Sinha  enjoys the larger windows adding more light to the hospital. Another big positive is moving the out-patient pediatric cancer clinic from the Cancer Centre to JCPH, so it’s all in one facility.

New is most impressed with the planning of the hospital, with patients and families at the centre of it.

Sinha believes you can tell it was built with families in mind. Sinha says the best thing about JCPH is the positive energy that surrounds it, and having a positive, bright, safe space for patients is important in their care.

(CJWW)