Hospital charity plea to fund 'vital' play therapy

For children who are facing long hospital stays for treatment like chemotherapy or transplantation, being able to spend some time at play is an essential part of helping them through a tough time.

Arts and crafts, music therapy and video games are just some of the things young patients are offered to help them through treatment at Leeds Children's Hospital.

Play manager Lisa Beaumont said the sessions are vital to support children on their hospital journeys, helping them to understand their treatment and reduce trauma.

The Leeds Hospitals Charity provides more than 300 therapeutic play sessions each week, and is now asking people to become regular donors so the service can continue.

Beaumont said the sessions help young patients understand, cope with and recover from treatment.

"We have many children who have lengthy hospital journeys, and play is often the only choice they have when they come into hospital," she said.

"They are often having big pieces of treatment such as chemotherapy, transplantation and surgery."

She added: "Play is a choice that they can make and bring some normalisation into their hospital stay.

"It also supports their journeys with the therapeutic elements of play, such as preparing children for thse unpleasant procedures that no child or family want to face, distracting them during those really unpleasant procedures."

Beaumont was speaking as Leeds Hospitals Charity launches its Play Appeal, encouraging individuals and businesses to become regular donors and help secure the future of the service.

She said regular giving could sustain it for the thousands of young patients who rely on it every year.

One of the children to benefit from the service is 10-year-old Ben, who said being able to have some fun in hospital really helped.

Making things - usually Spider Man-themed - and playing with a VR headset were among the things he said made hospital "less boring".

His mum Kirstie said Ben, who is now two years in remission from cancer, really benefitted from the sessions - especially when they increased from weekdays to on weekends too.

"We were actually in hospital when they switched from five day play to the seven day play and it made such a difference," she said.

"Being in hospital at the weekend can be such an isolating experience, everything is closed, having a play team available at the weekend, it helps with children but it helps with parents too."

Esther Wakeman, chief executive officer of the charity, said: "We're delighted to launch this campaign and encourage anyone who can to support the play team with a regular donation.

"Over the past year, we've seen first-hand the difference an expanded service can make for children and their families, helping them navigate some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

"With continued support from individuals and businesses, we can ensure even more children benefit from this vital service in the years to come."

Last year, more than 11,000 young patients were admitted to the hospital, where the average patient is just four years old.

The play team operates across 20 clinical areas and is delivered by 42 play staff, including 22 specialists.

The charity said regular donations can support resources including therapeutic materials, specialist toys and activities tailored to individual children's needs.

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