As part of Leeds Hospital Charity’s campaign to deliver play to all areas of the hospital, staff and families are now fundraising for a dedicated play space on the respiratory ward, aiming to raise £20,000.
Many of the children cared for on the ward have complex respiratory and medical needs and can spend weeks or even months in hospital, and currently there is no space for them to play other than in their hospital bed.
The fundraising drive has been led by Ward Manager Pooja Patel. The respiratory ward is one of the only units without a play room, so young people on the ward are currently missing out on the many benefits of play.
Pooja wanted to tackle this to give her patients the same opportunities as other children in hospital. She said:
“The hospital ward is a clinical, unfamiliar environment for young people, often facing scary procedures and treatments. We recognise the importance of creating a safe, calm space where young people can play, explore and simply be children, away from the confines of their bedside.
“This space will be a safe haven, it not only offers a much-needed break from their hospital bed, but also helps improve a child’s mental health and wellbeing. It’s all about creating small moments of joy during an incredibly challenging time for poorly children and their families.”
The team need to raise £20,000 to transform a currently unusable room on the ward into a bright, inviting multi-purpose space, complete with a mobile sensory unit tailored to the needs of children with learning difficulties or mobility issues.
4-year-old George Clarke from Middleton, Leeds has very complex medical needs, one of which is respiratory and he has spent lots of time in and out of hospital.
George’s mum Emma spoke to us about the difference a play room would make to George’s experience in hospital:
“Having a playroom creates a safe haven for children like George who spend so much time in and out of hospital for long periods away from their families and familiarity. So, to be able to move away from their bedside and have time to be a child is so important and also fundamental to their health and well being, as well as their recovery.
“The staff and Play Specialist Fi are amazing and try their very hardest to keep children occupied and relaxed, making sure children feel at home and ready to face any obstacle through play therapy. However, doing this at a child’s bedside which ends up been their safe space, is also very confusing and scary for a child therefore in having a playroom this will open so many doors, allowing children to open up and express themselves as well as give them a sense of freedom to be who they are and feel safe to express their needs and wants through play.”
Fi O’Connor, Play Specialist on the ward, shared how the new playroom, in addition to Leeds Hospitals Charity’s appeal to expand the Play Team will make a real difference to poorly children, she said:
“Lots of the young people I meet feel overwhelmed in hospital, it’s an unfamiliar environment where they sometimes need to undergo painful procedures. It’s our job as the Play Team to be there for every sick child in hospital and we do everything that we can to help us make the hospital experience brighter.
“We currently provide play for children and young people at their bedside, but there’s nowhere to go away from the busy and sometimes stressful environment on the ward. The new play room will provide us with a dedicated space where we can engage in play with young people that feels more like home to them.”
“Thanks to the charity funding, it looks like all ward areas will get access to the play team, but on our ward we don’t even have a place for children to play, other than in their beds. So, we desperately need a new playroom to offer our patients the same experience as the other wards.”
To support the team’s fundraising efforts, you can donate at www.justgiving.com/page/pooja-patel-1734778716943
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds Hospitals Charity
Photo: 4 year old George Clarke from Middleton
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