A team of play specialists at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) went to great lengths to put on a week of fun and games for unwell children during National Play in Hospital Week.
Play in Hospital Week, which took place in late October, was an opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of play and activity for young people staying in hospital.
Play specialists take on a vital role in using different play techniques to help younger patients understand their illness and provide them with reassurance and techniques to feel more relaxed before receiving their treatment.
Lisa Piper, play specialist lead at PAHT, said: “This year, the Play in Hospital Week theme was ‘play matters’, which gave us an opportunity to highlight our fantastic service and why play is so important for our younger patients.
“We see approximately 20 children every week and help them to understand and prepare for their procedure, improve their overall experience of being in hospital, boost their wellbeing and reduce anxiety levels.
“We encouraged the children to get involved with a range of fun activities such as painting with water colours, playing with interactive toys and dressing up as a superhero. The smile on their faces was priceless – it was an enjoyable and rewarding week for all of us.”
Sharon McNally, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health care professionals said: “Our play team are invaluable and make a real difference every day for our patients.
“The National Play in Hospital Week helped to lift the spirits of our patients and their relatives and to take their mind off being in hospital. I am so proud of our fantastic team – thank you all.”