a hospital of Belgium has built a ward to allow pets to visit patients who are in hospice care or with illnesses requiring long-term care in a bid to improve patient well-being.
Most hospitals around the world do not allow pets to visit for reasons of hygiene and contamination risks, and for years long-stay patients in the Sint-Trud hospital Those who wanted to see their pets had to do so in the hospital courtyard.
But after several conversations between cancer patients and hospital psychologists, the idea of an interior space dedicated to these visitors, separate but connected to the hospital, emerged. And the result is a pet visiting pavilion that opened last month.
“For residents of long-term hospitals, mental well-being is very important in their recovery, and reconnecting with pets really helps,” said the center’s spokeswoman. Mit Driesen.
Funded by a cancer charity for €140,000, the new space allows patients to meet their pets for one hour per week. For now only cats and dogs are allowed.