Play Service Supports Thousands of Children at Leeds Hospital

How play assists young patients during hospital stays

Leeds Children’s Hospital provides care for a large number of young patients, with its play service playing a key role in supporting children through their treatment. The hospital has 286 beds across 17 wards and offers 28 highly specialised services. In the past year, more than 11,000 children were admitted for treatment, with the average age of patients being just four years old.

The role of play in paediatric care

Play is used in various ways to help seriously ill children cope with the challenges of hospital treatment. The hospital’s Play Specialists and Play Leaders use different techniques and resources tailored to the child’s age and needs. These include:

• Normalising the hospital experience to reduce fear and anxiety
• Preparing children for difficult procedures using specialist dolls, books, and other age-appropriate materials
• Distracting children during treatment with bubbles, puppets, books, music, guided visualisation, and virtual reality

The play team aims to make medical procedures more bearable, which can help speed up treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation. They also provide emotional support to both the children and their families during what can be a very challenging time.

Benefits of the play service

• Helps children overcome fears that might otherwise prevent treatment
• Reduces anxiety and distress associated with hospital stays
• Encourages inclusion and engagement for young patients
• Supports faster recovery by improving the overall hospital experience

Leeds Children’s Hospital’s play service highlights the importance of emotional and psychological support alongside medical care for young patients.

Source: Leeds Hospitals Charity