From arts and crafts to messy play: how nine play specialists in Hull are supporting young patients through treatment and recovery
For poorly children coming into hospital, the idea of playtime and having fun may seem odd to some.
In fact, play in healthcare is an essential part of helping children and young people through their treatment and their recovery, and enabling them to understand what’s happening.
October 13 to 19 is the 50th anniversary of Play in Healthcare Week, and Hull’s team of hospital play specialists is celebrating by laying on some extra special activities for their young patients this week.
Sarah Jones is a play specialist based on Acorn Ward, the children’s surgical ward at Hull Royal Infirmary. She says:
“Being admitted to hospital can be difficult at any age but it can be especially confusing or unsettling for children when faced with a lack of routine, new people, and a different environment.
“Play specialists help to bridge the gap, providing essential support and helping to put children at ease, and bringing a sense of normality still, as far as they possibly can.
“We provide distraction when children have tests and procedures in hospital, and we explain things to children and young people in a way they can understand, using stories, books, photographs and toys. This helps to prepare them for things that can be difficult and that they might find challenging.
“Most importantly, we spend time getting to know our children and young people, building positive relationships and offering age appropriate, inclusive play for everyone.
“Play allows children and young people to be themselves and is a vital tool for managing stress and anxiety. It enables them to feel a sense of control when most things around them are being led by adults, and play is also key in supporting their recovery after treatment or surgery has taken place.”
Hull has a total of nine play specialists working across Acorn Ward, Woodland Ward, the Paediatric High Dependency Unit and the Children’s Emergency Department. Day-to-day, the team offers a range of different activities to promote understanding of what’s happening in hospital but also to support children’s ongoing development and enjoyment, from toys and building blocks to arts and crafts, board games, card games, and computer games for older children.
During Play in Healthcare Week, however, they have an extra special line-up in store for their young patients, as Sarah explains:
“We really wanted this to be a week of celebration, so we’ve lined up some really exciting things each day for the children in our care. There will be dressing up, autumn crafts and face painting, and we’ll also be helping youngsters to make their own soft toys. We’ll be welcoming in entertainers and story tellers, and the week wouldn’t be complete without biscuits which we’ll be helping the children to ice, and some proper messy play.”
Safeena Rehman, junior sister on Acorn Ward says:
“The play specialists are invaluable to the nursing and medical teams. They help to settle children into hospital and spend time getting to know our patients, which then helps us as clinical staff to provide the best possible care. The play specialists treat each child as an individual and will do whatever they can to ensure not only the child, but also their siblings and family, feel comfortable and cared for. They help bring fun to the ward at what can be a difficult time for many families, and we’d certainly be lost without them.”
If you would like to know more about what the play specialist team has in store, visit the main entrance of Hull Women and Children’s Hospital on Monday 13 October where play specialists will be promoting Play in Healthcare Week and explaining their role in supporting children and families.