Play helps children and young people to communicate and understand what is happening to them.
Play can support young patients to cope with procedures and ease any fears or anxieties. Being in hospital can feel frightening, but play can make the experience more positive and enjoyable.
On this page
Services we provide
Health play specialists are trained members of staff who use therapeutic and specialised play to help support children in hospital and healthcare settings. A health play specialist can use preparation, distraction and post-procedural play to give children a positive experience.
Our health play specialists can:
- Provide normalising and developmental play to help children meet their milestones
- Prepare children and young people for hospital procedures and treatments using play techniques
- Support children to explore unfamiliar equipment and procedures, such as MRI or CT scans
- Help children develop coping strategies, including ways to manage pain
- Use distraction through play during procedures, such as blood tests
- Create play plans to support procedures, taking into account each child or young person’s needs and choices
- Offer stimulating and therapeutic activities to reduce stress and encourage involvement
- Provide post-procedure play, giving children and young people the chance to talk about their treatment and correct any misunderstandings.
Where to find us
Emergency Department (A&E)
A registered play specialist is based in A&E to support children and young people who come to the department. This may be at the start of their hospital journey or if they return for more care. The play specialist provides the same support and therapeutic play as on the wards, and is available across the week, including some weekends.
Rainbow Ward
Our children’s ward has one registered play specialist during the week to support children and young people. This may be for planned procedures or emergency care.
On the ward, families can use:
- a playroom and balcony area
- a teenage room, linked with the school room, with a PlayStation and Xbox
- a portable sensory unit that can be used at the bedside, with fibreoptic lights, a hurricane tube, projector and music
The children's ward also welcome visits from Pets as Therapy (PAT) dogs and our regular entertainer.
How to access the play service
If your child is staying in hospital
If your child is on the Rainbow Ward or visiting the Paediatric Emergency Department, please ask a member of staff if you would like to see the health play specialist.
If your child is coming for an appointment
If your child is visiting as an outpatient, please speak to their clinician. They can refer to the health play specialist service through the e-Care message centre.