Other

Health News: Hospital care - Sick children denied play specialists

1 min read
Half of all children staying in hospital don't have contact with a play specialist despite government recommendations that all children should have daily access.

The Healthcare Commission, in the first national survey on children's hospital care, found that of the 25,000 children under 18 who stayed overnight and wanted to see a play leader, 47 per cent did not get the chance. A further 6,348 respondents were unaware that a play specialist was available, in contravention of the national service framework for acute children's care.

Lesley Wilson, play services manager at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said that lack of investment in services nationally was linked to poor recognition of the value of play in helping sick children get well.

She said that by distracting children from procedures and giving them the opportunity to express their fears, play specialists (usually early years or healthcare workers who have taken special hospital courses) were able to ease children's anxiety and supplement their overall recovery.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this