Where does your child receive care?

During treatment at the Princess Máxima Center, your child will receive care in different locations. The place depends on the type of examination or treatment. Often this is at the Máxima Center itself, but sometimes it’s at a hospital closer to home (shared care). For some procedures and treatments, you will go to the UMC Utrecht or the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ).

At the Máxima Center

Inpatient clinic

At the start of treatment, your child is admitted to the Máxima Center, and sometimes during treatment your child will need to stay in the hospital again. Each child has their own room connected to a room for the parent(s). We keep hospital stays as short as possible, because children recover faster at home than in the hospital.

Outpatient clinic

Your child will regularly visit the outpatient clinic for a consultation with the doctor or nurse specialist. Before the appointment, we measure height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, and take a blood sample. Some procedures take place in the treatment room of the outpatient clinic, such as connecting the central venous line (VIT) or inserting a feeding tube.

Day care unit

At the day care unit, your child receives care that doesn’t require an overnight stay. This may include chemotherapy, a blood transfusion, or minor procedures such as a bone marrow puncture. Your child also comes to the day care unit when having a scan or MRI under sedation.

It’s a large area with comfortable chairs and beds, where children can also play or do schoolwork. There are single rooms available for children who need them.

If your child has to come for several days in a row, you can stay overnight at the Ronald McDonald House.

Shared care

Not all care has to take place at the Máxima Center. Some treatments and check-ups happen in a shared care center, a hospital closer to home that works closely with us.

Together with your treating physician, you decide which shared care hospital that will be. Your doctor and nurse specialist stay in close contact with the team there throughout the treatment, ensuring care is well coordinated.

Collaboration with UMC Utrecht / Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ)

For some types of care, we work closely with the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ), which is connected to the Máxima Center via the “colours bridge.”

Surgery takes place in the operating centre Dromedaris on the second floor of the WKZ.
If your child needs intensive care, they will be admitted to the ICU (Pelikaan ward) on the second floor of the WKZ. You may be with your child 24 hours a day, but you cannot sleep beside them.
For radiotherapy, children go to the radiotherapy department at the back of UMC Utrecht, next to the emergency department. There is a special radiotherapy room for children and parking nearby.
Many radiology procedures such as ultrasounds, chest X-rays and scans are done at the Máxima Center, but some take place at UMC Utrecht.
For certain examinations or check-ups, such as eye tests, children visit the outpatient clinic at the WKZ or UMC Utrecht.

You will always find the exact location for your child’s appointment in your appointment letter.