Hong Kong Children’s Hospital Newsletter Issue 1 (July 2015)

A Hospital for Our Children…

It has been the dream of many paediatricians, sick children and their families to have a designated children’s hospital in Hong Kong.

With much effort by our predecessors, this dream has finally come into fruition. The Hong Kong Children’s Hospital (HKCH), located at the Kai Tak Development Area, is now under construction and targeted to commence service by phases in 2018.

It is a purpose-built hospital to protect the health and well-being of our children, our future.

Upon commissioning, HKCH will serve as a tertiary referral centre for management of complex paediatric cases, working closely with the regional hospitals through a hub-and-spoke model to form a coordinated paediatric service network in the Hospital Authority (HA).

With the concentration of complex, serious and rare diseases, pooling of medical expertise and advanced technology, HKCH aims to enhance the quality of paediatric services and facilitate the research development and training of our future healthcare professionals.

The success of HKCH relies on the collaborative effort from all stakeholders, including our staff, patient groups, NGOs, Colleges, Universities, Government and overseas partners. With this in mind, we launched the HKCH Newsletter to develop a closer connection with you and to keep you updated on the progress of HKCH development.

May we work together for our children.

Dr P Y Leung, Chief Executive Hospital Authority

A 50-Year Dream Comes True…

Post War Era

Most sick children were looked after by adult physicians. For the financially-deprived and critically-ill, one single in-patient referral unit was available at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH), which functioned within the University Department of Medicine. Later, another paediatric ward was established within a medical unit in Kowloon Hospital.

1950s

• This first special hospital for children was set up in Sandy Bay, providing convalescent care to children suffering from sequalae of poliomyelitis and spinal tuberculosis. The Hospital was later named after the Duchess of Kent.
• Ruttonjee Hospital, though not specially built for children, also provided special services for children with pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis.

1960s

• Concerted effort was made to develop paediatrics as a distinct clinical discipline.
• The Department of Paediatrics at QMH was established.
• Professor C E Field was appointed as the first Professor of Paediatrics.

1970s

• Professor James H Hutchison took up the Chair of Paediatrics in QMH. He actively advocated a special children’s hospital in Hong Kong.
• A number of proposals had also been raised by civic leaders and Legislative Council members including Dr Henrietta IP and Mr Hilton Cheong-leen to support the establishment of a children’s hospital.

1980s

• An improved paediatric accommodation was built in QMH which was subsequently known as the K-Block, with K stood for “Kinder”, the German word for children.
• A major combined ICU to include both newborn infants and older children was set up.
• Division of Paediatric Cardiology was established at Grantham Hospital.

1990s

• Improvements in hospital facilities and services in paediatrics have been made with the establishment of Hospital Authority in Hong Kong.

2007

• The Government announced in 2007 to study the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Paediatrics to further enhance the quality of paediatric services in Hong Kong.
• A Steering Committee was set up under the Food and Health Bureau in 2008 to examine the project.

2011

• HA published “Report on Review of Paediatric Services in Hospital Authority”.

2013

• Capital funding support of HK$13 billion was approved by the Finance Committee of Legislative Council for the project.
• HA has set up a dedicated governance structure for the planning and commissioning of the children’s hospital.

2014

• Ground Breaking Ceremony was held in February 2014. The Hospital was officially named as the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital (HKCH).

2017

• Construction works of HKCH is expected for completion in 2017.

2018

• HKCH is targeted to commence operation by phases in 2018.

References:

1. “The University of Hong Kong: Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 50^th Anniversary”, 2014
2. “The 50^th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Paediatric Society (1962-2012)”, August 2012
3. “Report on Review of Paediatric Services in Hospital Authority”, 2011
4. “Hong Kong College of Paediatricians 10^th Anniversary (1991-2001)”, November 2001
5. Yeung C Y, “Evolution of Child Health Care in Hong Kong”, Hong Kong Journal of Paediatrics (New Series), 2001; 6:66-71

Holistic Urban Design in Kai Tai Development

The Hong Kong Children’s Hospital (HKCH) is located at the South Apron of the Kai Tai Development. The site area is about 21,700m² and occupies a prominent waterfront location in the Kowloon Bay area with a long frontage (approximately 280m long) abutting the planned Waterfront Promenade and facing the creek (Kai Tai Approach Channel) at the south-western side.

HKCH forms part of the master planning for the whole Kai Tai Development which is being developed comprehensively as the “Heritage, Green, Sports and Tourism Hub of Hong Kong”. The design of HKCH meets the aspirations of the urban design and landscape framework within the Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan and the conceptual master planning of Kowloon East with the following features:

• Podium free design to promote a pedestrian friendly environment
• Twin-tower design with optimised separating distance to enhance building permeability
• Maximisation of ground floor frontage with glass walls facing both public roads and future waterfront promenade to enhance openness and accessibility
• A central landscaped garden at ground level with covered pedestrian pathways linking to the main entrances of the buildings to create a welcoming arrival node
• Maximization of site greenery coverage at ground level and roof terraces
• Building set-backs with green terraces facing the harbour to contribute to the amiable urban environment
• Application of a sustainable design concept and energy efficient design features including the adoption of a district cooling system

To tie-in with the overall concept and identity of the Kai Tak Development as a vibrant and people-orientated district, the design of signage and other exterior features in the public spaces of HKCH will follow the visual identity system of the Kai Tak Public Creatives. This approach will foster a visually cohesive identity that reflects the distinct characteristics, values, and personalities of Kai Tak.

In upcoming issues of the Newsletter, we will further introduce different aspects of the physical design of HKCH to give you a glimpse of our new hospital which we all excitedly look forward to.

Editorial Board

Chairperson

Dr Libby LEE, Chief Manager (Strategy, Service Planning & Knowledge Management)

Members

Dr Lily CHIU, Consultant (Commissioning / Hong Kong Children’s Hospital)

Dr Niko TSE, Hong Kong Children’s Hospital Commissioning Service Co-ordinator (Paediatric Nephrology)

Dr Jennifer KHOO, Hong Kong Children’s Hospital Commissioning Service Co-ordinator (Radiology)

Dr AU Cheuk-chung, Resident (Paediatrics), Hong Kong Children’s Hospital

Dr CHAN Yu Hin Eugene, Resident (Paediatrics), Hong Kong Children’s Hospital

Ms Cynthia CHAN, Manager (Corporate Communication / Communication & Publications)

Editor

Ms June WONG, Manager (Strategy & Service Planning)

Copyright @ 2015 Hospital Authority.

We welcome comments and suggestions, please email to us at hkch@ha.org.hk

Read the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital Newsletter online at www.ha.org.hk/hkch/