By
Steven Bowron
WE know the saying about all work and no play, but there are some lucky people for whom work IS play.
 For children getting over a serious illness, play is as crucial a part of the recovery process as drugs or therapy.
Each of Scotland’s children’s hospitals employs play specialists who usually have backgrounds as nurses or teachers. Edinburgh Sick Kids employs 14, one for each ward, with three others in training.
Dealing with newborns to 18-year-olds requires a variety of skills, as play services coordinator Ishbel Proctor explains. “If we have a newborn we try to get them out
of their cots so they can see and interact with other children.
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 Ishbel (centre, in green top) welcomes puppet show Breakfast With The Bickersons to Edinburgh Sick Kids.
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Therapy
“We use hanging mobiles and a Snoezelen, a therapy involving perspex bubble tubes, which change colour. We also play classical music, which has been shown to have a positive developmental effect.
“For older children we have arts and crafts, reading, writing, baking and dressing-up. Of course, teenagers prefer computers and DVDs so we’re getting another games console.
“Entertainers, like puppet shows, are always welcome. We get a few coming in, especially during the Festival.
“And two specially-trained dogs are brought in every week which
the children can take for a walk.”
Ishbel says a lot of the work involves trying to make the hospital a less alien environment.
“If blood needs to be taken, we explain why and how much. We have them paint with syringes to take the fear out of them. Of course, we have to tell them not to pick up syringes they might see discarded
in the street.
“There’s a lot of preparation and distraction therapy, using
Where’s Wally? books or blowing bubbles when they’re having injections.
“If a child has lost some use of their arms it’s beneficial to knead dough or push their hands through sand. It’s therapy, but doesn’t feel like it. Squeezing dough is a good way of releasing anger which can be useful because some children get very cross when confined to wards.
Get well cards
“With children who are in hospital long-term we liaise with their schools so they can keep up
with their curriculum as much as possible. But keeping in touch with classmates is equally important.
It’s not good if a child immediately receives 32 get well cards, but never hears from anyone again.
“Texting means they can get news but we also encourage them to write letters.”
Fun, especially therapeutic fun, needs funds. About £15,000 a year is spent on paints, paper, pencils, toys and putting treats in reward boxes for young patients who have undergone difficult procedures.
And it costs £1400 to train a play specialist. In the Edinburgh Sick Kids some of the expense is met from charitable donations. Ishbel says donations channelled through The Sunday Post Appeal would be especially welcome in these areas.
“It’s great The Sunday Post can raise awareness and funds. After all, helping children in hospital to play must be the most rewarding job ever.”
 IF YOU have a
special reason for contributing to or raising funds for our appeal
then we’d like to hear from you.
It could be that
you’d like to thank caring staff for the treatment they’ve
provided in your hour of need. Or perhaps a relative spent time in
one of Scotland’s children’s hospitals and the experience has
left a lasting impression on your family’s life.
Whatever the reason,
please let us know.
We’d be delighted
to share your experiences with our readers. And, who knows,
it may inspire others to follow in your fund-raising footsteps.
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