Each year, there are nearly 1.8 million child hospital admissions in the UK, and yet nearly three-quarters (71%) of NHS trusts and health boards do not have an allocated budget to fund health play services for children.
In 2024, the services of one national charity championing children’s play in healthcare - Starlight Children’s Foundation - were accessed more than 2 million times by children and young people across the UK.
What’s more, the business case to support the expansion of play services across the health service is increasingly compelling, with independent research showing that the charity saves the NHS £2.2m each year in staff days worked.
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