Patient hotel to 'transform care of young patients'

The hotel development will provide accommodation for patients, their parents and offer therapy and rehabilitation under one roof

Plans for a "patient hotel" that could bring families back together and provide a home-from-home for children who have been in hospital have been announced.

The £2m development would be built on Southwell Street in Bristol and provide accommodation for young patients, who no longer need a hospital bed, and their families.

Bristol Children’s Hospital has the largest catchment area in England covering most of the South West, which increases the demand for beds.

Clinical chair Martin Gargan said the hotel would provide a "sense of normality" while transforming the care of vulnerable young patients and freeing up "much needed bed space".

"With each of these children, come their worried families," he said.

"Stressed, anxious and far from home, some of these families are coming to terms with their child facing a life-long health condition, life-changing injuries, and possibly a lengthy inpatient stay."

Mr Gargan said the hotel would free up much needed bed spaces at the hospital

A planning application for the patient hotel has been submitted to Bristol City Council by the Bristol Children's Hospital charity, The Grand Appeal.

The hotel will be available to children once they no longer require around the clock in-patient care in hospital.

As well as providing accommodation for patients and their parents, the development will also offer therapy and rehabilitation.

The concept of Patient Hotels originated in Sweden and this is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, a spokesperson for The Grand Appeal said.

It is hoped the purpose-designed hotel will set a benchmark for 'step-down' facilities for patients after long or repeated hospital stays.

If approved, the hotel would be built on land opposite St Michael's Hospital on Southwell Street

The hotel will offer patients and families access to 12 ensuite rooms, with a communal kitchen, laundry and lounge areas.

The facilities will benefit children with a range of medical conditions, including those undergoing neurorehabilitation following a brain injury, those recovering from complex orthopaedic surgeries, and children who need daily input from dieticians, speech and language therapists or nutritionists.

Ms Masters said the hotel would set a "new standard in the UK" for children’s healthcare

The Grand Appeal director, Nicola Masters, said the organisation's "almost 30-year partnership" with Bristol Children’s Hospital and Aardman has always been focused on "pioneering" care for critically ill and sick babies and children.  

"The Patient Hotel is our next step on that journey,  whilst setting a new standard in the UK for children’s healthcare following intensive care and treatment in hospital," she said.