Thank you to our Play Specialists for making hospital a little less scary | Latest news

This week is Nottingham University Hospitals’(NUH) Thank you week and today we are celebrating our incredible Play Specialists and the vital role they play in supporting children and families at Nottingham Children’s Hospital (NCH).

For a child, coming into hospital can be an unfamiliar and sometimes frightening experience. Whether they are visiting for an appointment, undergoing treatment or staying on a ward, our Play Specialists are there to help make those experiences a little less daunting.

Through play, activities and distraction, the team helps children cope with procedures and treatment, while also providing opportunities for them to have fun and simply be children during their time in hospital.

This week also marks Play Week, giving us the perfect opportunity to shine a light on the team and the difference they make every day.

As part of the celebrations, children and families were treated to a special animal encounters session, giving them the chance to get up close to a whole host of animals.

From guinea pigs, a rabbit and a dog to some more unusual visitors including cockroaches, a tarantula, a hedgehog and African snails, the session gave children staying in hospital and those visiting for treatment a welcome distraction from the clinical environment.

For the children involved, it was a chance to experience something different, have fun and create positive memories during what can otherwise be a stressful time for them and their families.

Dianne, mother to her son CJ who comes into the hospital regularly said: “They have really helped with his confidence, they have got to know him as person, they just have so much time for him and so much time for me as well. It has made a massive difference and I am grateful.”

While activities like the animal encounter bring fun and excitement onto the wards, the role our Play Specialists play goes much further.

They work closely with clinical teams to support children throughout their hospital journey, helping to reduce anxiety, prepare them for procedures and provide distraction during difficult or uncomfortable moments.

Their support is also invaluable to colleagues, helping clinical teams build trust with children and make treatments or therapies feel more manageable.

Esther Gordon, Family Liaison Nurse on the critical care unit at NUH said: “The work they do is absolutely invaluable, they provide so much distraction and entertainment for the children whilst they are here to take their minds of what they are going through.”

The team works alongside a wide range of healthcare professionals, adapting their approach to the individual needs of each child and helping them engage with their care and treatment.

Antony La Mola, Physiotherapist at NUH said: “The play specialist team make our service much quicker allowing us to care for more patients more efficiently. I am grateful to them.”

So, in Thank You week NUH would like to say a huge thank you to our Play Specialists who bring joy, entertainment and care to children and families when they need it most.