The Play Service exists to help children, young people and their families understand about and cope with treatment, procedures, equipment and their feelings. It is a service available for all families, whether coming for an in-patient stay or a visit to the Emergency Department or a clinic.
Being able to play and join in with activities is an important part of the care that children and young people receive across NHS Lothian, including at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh and St. John’s Hospital Livingston.
Play services are led by registered Health Play Specialists who are qualified with a Diploma or Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism. Play assistants and nursery nurses also work within our hospitals and all have a childcare qualification as well as experience in play work and child development.
Why is play in the hospital important?
Play helps children to express their feelings. For children in hospital, play becomes even more important as it can help them understand their illness and treatment, bring a feeling of normality and help them to relax in strange surroundings.
Children can be given the chance to touch and handle medical equipment and can role-play with preparation dolls (or their favourite toy) under the guidance and supervision of play staff.
Play can be an escape from feeling unwell or scared, or a welcome distraction when children are bored or restless. Play also:
- Releases surplus energy.
- Stimulates muscle growth and motor coordination.
- Provides the opportunity to practice actions useful in adult life.
- Develops imagination.
- Develops language skills.
- Provides a rest from reality and relieves boredom.
- Allows children to express their feelings.
- Builds up confidence and can help to prevent young patients from becoming distressed or withdrawn.
Meet the team
Play staff can be found within the hospital from 8 am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The play team can also be contacted on 0131 312 0364. Staff in all of our wards can also put families in touch with the team.
This should be replaced as follows:
Play Services Co-Ordinator
Margaret McEwan – loth.playteam@nhs.scot
Tel: 0131 312 0364
- Play Team
- Dalhousie Ward – Douglas
- Borthwick Ward – Tasha
- Castle Mey Ward – Katie & Rachel
- Crichton Ward – Lesley-Ann, Diane, Aisling, Vicky & Claire
- Critical Care – Tasha
- Dirleton Ward – Jennifer
- Dunvegan Ward – Holly
- Emergency Department – Sara
- Lochranza Ward – Emily
- Outpatients Department – Lynn & Tracey
- St John’s Hospital, Children’s Ward – Jillian
- PRANX (Procedural Anxiety Clinic) – Meghan & Claire
- Tantallon Ward – Tricia
What do Play Specialists and Play staff do?
Play specialists offer children suitable play activities and have resources for all ages, to encourage their recovery and keep them engaged. They also:
- Work alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team caring for a patient
- Use play to prepare for and as a coping technique during procedures
- Help children adapt to their new situation
- Reduce stress and anxiety by providing an outlet for feelings
- Use play to prepare children for surgery and procedures
- Use play as a distraction for painful or unpleasant procedures
- Help families be involved in their child’s care and play
- Make the hospital a child-friendly environment
- Arrange pre-admission visits for children and young people
- Provide special educational days for siblings
- Encourage continuation of learning while in hospital
- Organise seasonal events and celebrations throughout the year
Preparing children for hospital
Children coming to the hospital or for an appointment can feel worried, scared or anxious – especially if they don’t know what to expect. The Procedural Anxiety (PRANX) service offered by the play team helps children who are feeling especially anxious or who might benefit from some preparation time before a visit, appointment or procedure.
Children can be given a chance to touch, feel, hold or listen to medical equipment, meet Frank ( our dummy arm!) and play with preparation dolls (or their favourite toy) under the guidance and supervision of play specialists or other medical staff. Play can help children to express any feelings of anger, fear or frustration while building up a child’s confidence. This type of preparation can prevent young patients from becoming distressed or withdrawn during their medical treatment and minimise repeat visits to the hospital.
Coping with feelings
Messy play, using water, sand, paint, clay, and jelly, is ideal for children to express themselves and is very popular. Active play can help reduce excess energy. Imaginative play can become a channel for expressing feelings. The Play Specialist understands these needs and will help each child in the best way possible. Many of the games and pastimes are the same as those enjoyed at school or playgroup. Family play is encouraged in the ward so that everyone can feel involved, including siblings.
