Support play in hospitals ahead of Play in Healthcare Week | Charity news

MY Hospitals Charity has launched a new Children’s Fund. Donations will improve the look and feel of the wards and fund play equipment and activities for children receiving care in Pinderfields, Pontefract, and Dewsbury hospitals.

The launch comes ahead of Play in Healthcare Week (starting Monday 13 October). The week is an annual national celebration of the vital role play and Health Play Specialists have in supporting babies, children and young people in healthcare settings. 

Hospital environments can be daunting for children and young people, and that’s why MY Hospitals Charity and the team’s mascot, Hari the Hippo, aim to make every hospital stay brighter, more fun, and full of smiles. Play is not only a source of fun but also a vital tool in helping children understand treatments, manage emotions, and cope with stressful situations.

As part of the launch, Hari visited children’s areas across all three hospital sites last week and handed out mini Hari teddies and certificates to young patients to bring smiles and comfort during their hospital stays.

Katie Field, Play Specialist at Mid Yorkshire, explained: 

“Play is how children learn to navigate the world, create relationships, manage their emotions, and cope with stressful situations. In a hospital setting, play becomes an invaluable tool for distraction, emotional support, and healing. Our team is passionate about making sure every child has the opportunity to express themselves and experience joy through play, even while receiving treatment.”

Donations to the fund will help provide items and experiences that the NHS cannot routinely fund. It goes beyond toys, helping to create more welcoming, calming, and supportive environments for children and their families. This could include 3D TV apps with soothing underwater scenes, interactive technology like the ‘kitten scanner’ at Pinderfields Hospital that helps children prepare for MRI scans, as well as books, games, and traditional toys to make time in hospital a little less frightening.

Last year, the Charity’s MY MRI Appeal funded the installation of the kitten scanner. The playful ‘scanner’ allows children to practise having an MRI using toy animals, helping them to feel less anxious and more confident about their own scans.

15-year-old Ava recently spent time on Pinderfields Hospital’s Children’s Assessment Unit. She said: 

“The Children’s Fund and Amazon wish list really helps young patients feel less anxious, as the money is used to buy toys and play equipment. It helps to make their time in hospital more enjoyable and help take their minds of their worries.”

Every donation helps to create happy memories during tough times. Together, we can turn hospital stays into brighter days.

To support the MY Children’s Services Fund:
•    Text MYHARI to 70085 to donate £5
•    Send a gift from the Amazon wish list by visiting https://bit.ly/CF-wish-list   
•    Make a donation online at https://bit.ly/CF-donorfy