Our team of professionally trained Health Play Specialists offer a range of expertise in helping families and their children to cope as well as possible with illness and treatment, closely liaising with the multi-disciplinary teams in Children's Services. Children may feel overwhelmed by the strangeness of being in hospital and feeling unwell. They may struggle to cope with daily life which has very different routines to normal. They may be fearful of what is happening to their bodies and of the medical treatment they need.
Our service is for babies, children and teenagers and includes physical, messy and therapeutic play to help make patients: feel at home in hospital, understand their illness and treatment, cope with stress and let off steam. We also provide advice for family members throughout the process, including preparing to go home. We have Play Rooms on the Children's Wards that are open in the mornings and afternoons offering a range of play and art and craft activities—bedside toy boxes are available in the evenings.
At the weekends the Play Rooms are open at the discretion of the nursing staff. Hospital Play Staff are also available within outpatient clinics during the week—individual support for children undergoing an appointment or procedure can be provided upon request—and a range of toys and activities are available in the waiting areas.
Our Youth Worker specialises in working young people aged 11—18 and ensures the young person is seen as a young person and not as a child. They can help:. A safe and confidential space for patients to come together to express views about their hospital experience and work together to help improve the services available to them.
What we do Our team of professionally trained Health Play Specialists offer a range of expertise in helping families and their children to cope as well as possible with illness and treatment, closely liaising with the multi-disciplinary teams in Children's Services. What are the benefits of play services?
