A stay in hospital can be a worrying time for young patients, but a donation of ‘play therapy’ packs that help children feel less anxious in healthcare settings has been warmly welcomed at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn (QEH).
The QEH was surprised to receive the gift from 3D Toy Shop, which includes dolls that have been specially designed by healthcare professionals to help children better understand medical equipment and feel less anxious about their experiences.
The dolls can wear their very own hospital gown, pretend to have finger prick tests, have a catheter and stoma bag, a pacemaker, their own crutches and more.
Better understanding
Nicola Wright, Health Play Specialist at the hospital, said: “This equipment can be safely used with children to help them to understand what will happen to them in hospital.
“Hospital can be daunting, and we want children to have the most positive journey possible. Play is a normal, fun activity for children and we can role play with these dolls and equipment to help generate understanding.
“A huge thank you to the volunteers who made this equipment and for those who donated towards the cost of it.”
‘It makes a real difference’
One of the patients to receive a doll was eight-year-old Joshua Schwarz who was recently an inpatient at The QEH for surgery.
His dad Chris Schwarz, said: “Kids need and like engagement, things such as this that keep them calm helps whilst they are in hospital.”
Grace Allen, mum to four-year-old Hayden, had used similar equipment in the past for her son who has a feeding tube. She said: “I have seen the benefits of this myself at home, it makes a real difference.
“We have role played the baby having feeding tubes and syringes and when he woke up from his surgery he was okay with it and even fed his doll.
“It was seeing the 3D Toyshop originally that made me think of using one. Hayden’s nursery also uses these dolls to educate other children, it is a lifeline for children.”
