Thoughtful ward design in the mind of psychiatric children
The first child and adolescent psychiatric ward in the Gazette on Hong Kong Island is located at East Block, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH). It accommodates 20 beds, 12 of which have been put into use. To facilitate the treatment and alleviate patients’ anxiety, considerate ward design was adopted to suit their needs, with a view to helping them resume daily and school life upon discharge.
Safety first facilities
According to Mental Health Ordinance(Cap. 136B), the mental hospitals published in the Gazette are for the detention, custody, treatment and care of mentally disordered persons. Currently, in addition to PYNEH (including general adult psychiatric ward and the new child and adolescent psychiatric ward), other mental hospitals published in the Gazette are located at Castle Peak Hospital, Kwai Chung Hospital, Tai Po Hospital and Kowloon Hospital.
- Set up sensor tap of cold and hot water to prevent patients from hurting themselves with faucet of the wash basin and reduce the possibility of cross-infection.
- Bedroom walls are painted in soft colours and illustrations of marine creatures to ease patients’ anxiety. With door-in-door design, medical staff are allowed to get in through the middle one and provide assistance when patients lock themselves in the room.
- ‘Quiet room’ with padding wall and floor is set up for children to calm down, which can help prevent patients from injuring themselves while venting their emotions.
- In addition to the CCTVs and reflectors in the wards, the nurse station is located at the middle of the corridors, so that medical staff can closely monitor the patients and provide instant support.
- In both male and female wards’ corridors, there are game zones providing television entertainment and various board games for patients of different ages to have fun and communicate with their peers, and thus aiding recovery.
- In collaboration with Hong Kong Red Cross Hospital Schools, customised educational services that in line with patients’ treatment are provided. Patients with special education needs are grouped together for trainings to improve their learning, emotion management as well as sociability, so that they could better integrate into a new life at school.
- There is an observation room next to each activity room. Through the one-way glass, medical staff and family members can observe the behavior of the patients in order to formulate treatment plans and find better ways to get along with them.
According to Mental Health Ordinance(Cap. 136B), the mental hospitals published in the Gazette are for the detention, custody, treatment and care of mentally disordered persons. Currently, in addition to PYNEH (including general adult psychiatric ward and the new child and adolescent psychiatric ward), other mental hospitals published in the Gazette are located at Castle Peak Hospital, Kwai Chung Hospital, Tai Po Hospital and Kowloon Hospital.