The Dubai Health Care Authority (DHA) announced this week the start of the second phase of construction of Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital- the first facility of its kind in the region.
It has been set up to concentrate on promoting comprehensive paediatric healthcare and was unveiled by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai.
The DHA signed an agreement with Al Futtaim Carillion for undertaking the second phase of construction of the hospital, which is expected to be completed in 26 months. Upon completion it will be the first facility of its kind in the region offering super-speciality and multi-spectrum paediatric care.
With a developmental value of AED 673 million, Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital is envisaged to offer the full spectrum of healthcare for children – from newborns to 16-year-olds – and will have several centres of excellence dedicated to cancer care, cardiology, neurology and mental health, among other specialities. The hospital will feature high-end medical equipment and will be led by a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals. The child-friendly hospital aims to feature sustainability elements adding to speed of patient recovery.
Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital is set on dedicated premises within the Al Wasl Hospital campus. The 200-bed hospital, sprawling over 100,000 square metres, will provide the entire range of children’s healthcare services including oncology care, nephrology, cardiac care, neo-natal care, among others. Land levelling and preliminary construction related work has been completed already.
“Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital will redefine paediatric care in the UAE and the wider region. The hospital is the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, to provide the highest standards of care to children, covering all relevant specialities, in a warm and welcoming environment.” His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, the Director-General of DHA said while addressing a press conference to announce the details of the second phase,.
Designed with a rational and functional layout as a child-friendly hospital, Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital is designed to immediately put children at ease.
“The hospital will further underline the vision of the leadership of Dubai in developing an efficient and modern healthcare infrastructure that addresses the requirements of all cross-sections of the society. Our mission is to provide world-class medical practices for children, right here in Dubai, thereby adding to the convenience of parents, who are sometimes forced to travel abroad to seek critical care for their kids,” he added.
Emphasising on building sustainability and redefining the traditional approach to hospital architecture, Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital applies innovative concepts whereby the design and construction aspects are integrated with the healing process. Of the total area, nearly half has been earmarked for gardens and landscaping including a ‘healing garden’ with bright flowering shrubs and herbs and medicinal plants.
The use of natural light, greenery and healing landscape are aimed at offering a high level of indoor air quality, reducing noise and creating a pleasant environment. The development will be highlighted by several energy saving initiatives including sustainable construction techniques to reduce energy use, an active wall façade system to reduce ambient temperature inside the hospital, and rooftop gardens that provide greater insulation. As part of its focus on sustainability, Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital will use recycled water for irrigation purposes.
The eco-friendly design and development model of the hospital has won international honours, including the Future Projects – Health Award at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, 2009; and Hospital Build Award 2011 for Best Sustainable Hospital Project.
Engineer Simon Webb, Managing Director of Al Futtaim Carillion said: “It is our honour to be associated with a prestigious project like the Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital that is a visionary initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. We will ensure world-class quality of construction for the hospital, in line with the specific brief from the Dubai Health Authority to create an aesthetic, appealing and eco-friendly environment that will appeal to children.”
With a total built up area of 76,500 sq m of which the hospital surface spans over 55,000 sq m, the 4-storey hospital with basement parking has been designed by Studio Altieri International, which also undertakes the interior decor. In addition to underground parking for 40 vehicles, the hospital will have 430 external parking spaces.
The hospital will have 40 incentive care units, six dialysis facilities, 20 healing centres, 12 training rooms, eight operating theatres, 30 clinical and non-clinical departments, over 3,750 biomedical equipment and fixtures, and a multipurpose activities room for children, among others. Well-connected departments, single bedrooms and a family-centred approach set the hospital apart.
His Excellency Khalid Al Sheikh Mubarak, Deputy Director-General of the DHA, said: “The entire operational and development aspects of Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital have been developed following extensive research and visits to globally renowned paediatric facilities. We are drawing on the best of expertise across the board to give all UAE residents as well as patients from the region the easiest access to world-class paediatric care.”
“The focus of the hospital, which follows a horizontal layout plan, will be to enhance the efficient and non-intrusive interaction between the patients and their parents,” he added. “The design, architecture and décor elements aim to stimulate the participation and imagination of children through visual aids, interactive touch-surfaces, imaginative shapes, and integrating arts, music and nature as part of the overall healthcare welfare strategy.”
“Al Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital will be built according to the highest international standards applied for the construction of healthcare facilities with specifications that take into consideration the privacy of patients and help provide a peaceful ambience for them,” said Dr Mohammad Al Olama, CEO of Hospital Services Sector at the DHA.
“Once completed the hospital will be an advanced medical facility that will attract ‘medical tourism’ to the Emirate and will help improve the level and quality of healthcare services for children,” He added.
“The other key facilities at the hospital are Imaging & Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, an advanced clinical laboratory, emergency department, operating theatres, neonatal intensive care unit, burn unit, endoscopy facilities, rehabilitation and pharmacy among others,” he concluded.