Starship Children’s Hospital Athlae Lyon Day Stay Unit officially opened today

A new day stay unit that is part of a significant rebuild project at Starship Children’s Hospital, was opened today by Health Minister Simeon Brown.

The Athlae Lyon Day Stay Unit, named in memory of a long-time supporter of the Starship Foundation, is supported by Crown funding alongside the hospital’s charity arm, the Starship Foundation.

The $48 million Starship rebuild also includes an expansion of the national Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), new rooms for PICU families, a new simulation suite and space for staff training and support. The project is due for completion in 2026.

Starship’s Director of Surgery, Cardiac and Intensive Care Units, Dr John Beca says the new day stay unit will improve the experience of children and whānau and reduce pressure on the hospital’s staff and patients through increased capacity.

“The new unit will triple our capacity compared to the small room previously used and free up inpatient beds for acute and planned care that requires an overnight stay.

“It will offer a more appropriate space for day procedures, such as infusions or allergy testing, where a patient isn’t required to stay overnight, but was previously assigned an inpatient bed,” says Dr Beca.

The unit includes six new treatment bays, and two new treatment rooms set up for sleep studies.

Starship Foundation Chair Martin Wiseman says the Foundation is pleased to have contributed $23 million towards bringing the PICU expansion and Athlae Lyon Day Stay Unit to life. 

“This project is a testament to the generosity of New Zealanders who believe, as we do, that every child deserves the best possible care. 

“The generous support of our donors means that more children can now access timely treatment without needing to stay overnight,” says Mr Wiseman.

Athlae Lyon’s husband, 92-year-old Cliff Lyon says that having Athlae’s name on the new day stay unit is incredibly moving for the Lyon family. 

“Athlae gave so much of herself to Starship — her time, her voice, her heart. Knowing her legacy now lives on in a place that helps children every day is something we’re immensely proud of,” says Mr Lyon.