National play toolkit to reduce children’s medical trauma launched at UCLH

A new toolkit to support babies, children and young people in healthcare access high quality health play services was launched at UCLH last week with UCLH chief nurse Vanessa Sweeney welcoming visitors from NHS England and the play charity Starlight.

Therapeutic play helps safeguard children against the mental health impacts of medical trauma and alleviates anxiety and isolation caused by hospitalisation. Improving children’s calmness and co-operation with treatment can reduce delayed procedures and lower the need for sedation or anaesthetic, and so it is also cost-effective.

The new toolkit, produced by NHS England and Starlight, will help the NHS to design, plan and deliver high-quality health play services for babies, children and young people. Irene O’Donnell, UCLH lead for therapeutic play and workforce development lead at the Society of Health Play Specialists, was special adviser to the taskforce on play in healthcare. Irene said,

“The publication of the health play toolkit is a significant achievement in the drive to integrate play into healthcare for all babies, children and young people. Health play in the NHS contributes to improving efficiency such as avoiding the need for general anaesthetics, avoiding admissions, and reducing waiting lists as well as enhancing patient experiences.

“There is a disparity of availability of play services and limited access to training for people wanting to enter the health play profession. This toolkit sets out a road map for the improvement and growth of health play services to support all babies, children and young people in their healthcare experiences.”

Holly recently experienced play services at UCLH when her daughter had an accident at school and needed specialist surgery on her teeth and gums. Holly commented,

“We were nervous coming to London for an appointment because my daughter is non-verbal and has a range of health problems meaning the trains were out - so we had a six-hour drive on our hands. We were slightly dreading it - but it was amazing!

“It was the best hospital appointment we’ve had. To see my daughter enjoying interactions, so happy, calm and well advocated for made me wish every hospital had play services. Having a smooth appointment saved a lot of time but most of all she wasn’t scared – she was happy.”

Attendees at the launch also saw a preview of a video, supported by UCLH Charity, about play services at UCLH. Watch the video here: