Starcare announces dedicated hospital for women and kids

This 80 bed hospital is purpose built with women and children as the centre of its design and packed with several unique features

MUSCAT: Starcare, the leading Quality Healthcare provider in Oman has announced the construction of Starcare Cuddles, Oman’s one and only, exclusive Women and Children Hospital in Al Hail, Muscat, yesterday.

This first of its kind hospital in the Sultanate will provide the best possible care to women, children and families. This 80 bed hospital is purpose built with women and children as the centre of its design and packed with several unique features.

The hospital which will be staffed mostly by women to ensure that women and children will have the safety, privacy, luxury, comfort and the highest clinical quality care that Starcare group is known for.

Some of the unique features of Starcare Cuddles Women and Children Hospital will be Waterbirths and spa, high risk pregnancy unit, centre for advanced laparoscopic gynecology, fetal medicine, antenatal classes, urogynecology, breast care centre, 24 hour painless labour service, home maternity care, dematology and comsetology and lady surgeon’s services.

Neonatal ICU with 15 beds will be one of the largest in the private sector. An entire floor dedicated to children will have innovative digital technology used to enhance children’s experience during hospital stays. Apart from 24 hour specialist pediatric emergency and general pediatric services, Starcare Cuddles will offer subspecialty services like pediatric cardiology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric orthopedics and pediatric allergy, pediatric psyhcology and pediatric anesthesiology

Announcing the project in a women and children themed press conference, Dr Sadik Kodakat, founder and chairman of Starcare Group said that “More than two thirds of Oman population are women and children. Specialised project such as this will give a lot more focus on their health and wellness needs to keep our families and communities healthy. Our current hospital in Muscat has been working at its full capacity and so this is also an expansion plan for us.

Dr Askar Kukkadi, managing director and senior consultant pediatrician, said, “We all know that every women, particularly the mother and babies deserve the best care possible - before, during, and after a newborn enters the world. Apart from the unique customised building designs and technology we use to help women and children, we are really excited that we have a very experienced and popular team of Consultants, specialists, midwives, nursing and support team who have made Starcare a popular name in the community. Starcare Cuddles is the next level of service we wish to provide”.

Dr Anita Zutshi, head of Department and senior consultant in Obstetric and Gynecology at Starcare Hospital, Muscat said, “We are all eagerly waiting to move into Starcare Cuddles once completed. We will be able to expand women’s services a lot more, especially in dealing with high risk pregnancies and advanced surgeries needed for women, including general surgery and breast care”.

Dr Sunil Bhatnagar, head of Department and Senior Consultant Paediatrician at Starcare Hospital said, “Having dedicated outpatient and inpatient space for children is really appealing. Moreover, the number of pediatric sub specialities lined for the project and the capabilities of our large Neonatal ICU will truly take children’s healthcare in Oman private sector to international standards. Having play therapists and parent support groups are something we are contemplating ”.

Dina Lang, the lead midwife at Starcare Hospital said, “This is like a dream coming true for us. Being able to care of our women in such a spacious, comfortable and safe environment at Cuddles is something we are all looking forward to. Water birth is going to be a new experience for many women in Oman. We will continue to extend our homecare services along with Cuddles too so that our care doesn’t stop when people leave our premises”.

Starcare Cuddles features 24 hours Specialist Paediatric Emergency unit, Women’s emergency unit, 15 bed Neonatal ICU, spacious labour delivery rooms including permanent water birth facilities, a spa, intensive care unit, dedicated children’s floor, 3 operation theatres with laminar airflow systems, advanced laparoscopic centre, breast care centre with mammography, breast ultrasound, breast surgeon, medical oncology and cosmetic surgeries. Inpatient rooms will have luxury suites as well as affordable private rooms. Children’s floor is uniquely designed using modern digital displays and interactive moving images. The hospital is located on the main Sultan Qaboos highway, easily visible and accessible to all parts of Oman.

Starcare group established its first hospital in 2011 in Muscat. Ever since the group has grown with a hospital in Barka and three medical centres in Bousher, Mabela and Duqm.

Starcare started in UAE this year with a large medical centre and has a very successful 250 bed hospital in Kerala, India with a second 350 bed hospital coming up soon.

The group, known for bringing JCI quality accreditation standards to Oman, is on an aggressive growth path with the support of various stakeholders.