Play Service
Play is essential for babies, children and young people’s development, mental health and wellbeing. Our vision in the Great North Children’s Hospital is to provide positive experiences whilst in hospital for patients by providing play, recreation and activities using therapeutic and specialised interventions.
We aim to support patients’ development and recovery by providing play opportunities with the aim of reducing emotional and long-term trauma. Through play children are supported to understand and cope with their hospital experiences, express feelings, reduce fear and anxiety and maintain a sense of normality in an unfamiliar environment.
Our play service is made up of registered Health Play Specialists and Nursery Nurses. They work closely with the multi-disciplinary team to advocate for children and young people and to support families to have a positive hospital experience.
Our Nursery nurses and Health Play Specialists are available to provide developmental and normalising play opportunities. They provide fun experiences for patients whilst in hospital and this can be in the ward playroom or at the patient’s bed space.
Health Play Specialists support patients and the multi-disciplinary team by using therapeutic play to prepare patients for procedures, distract during procedures and post procedural play to recover after procedures.
Our Play team are available on all inpatient and day unit wards, Children’s Outpatient department, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Community and contribute to the KidzScan project for MRI.
If you would like support from the Play Team during your visit, please ask a member of the team.
