Page 15 - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Connect Summer 2019

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Seven year old William receiving a ‘Little Linac’. (picture courtesy of SWNS)
LittleLinacs helpyoungpatients
Supporting care through play in hospital
Cwith cancer treatment
hildren undergoing cancer therapy are being given toy and understand what the machine looks like and how it moves models of the linear acceleration machine (linac for around them during their treatment. The Institute of Physics short) used in their radiotherapy treatment to help ease and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) funded the toys following
their anxiety. The ‘Little Linacs’ help normalise the experience an idea by Professor David Brettle, Head of Medical Physics and in a way that is creative and fun by allowing children to see Engineering at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
Anna Grisdale is a play leader on ward 50, the paediatric liver and kidney unit at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
Anna has worked at Leeds Teaching Hospitals for 15 years and explains more about her role in supporting children and young people.
As play leaders, we use our knowledge of child development and therapeutic play to help children and young people during their stay in hospital. This includes preparing children for treatment, using distraction techniques during procedures and helping them deal with any pain and anxiety they may experience. The play team are an essential part of the multi-disciplinary team on the ward in supporting the child and their family.
I have previously been involved in setting up a play facility in a woman’s prison, allowing children and young people to have a positive experience when visiting their mothers in an environment which could cause anxiety. This experience was good preparation for my current role working with children in hospital. Having spent time in hospital as a young person I’m aware how frightening it can be and stressful for the whole family.
The creativity and thought that goes into each individual play programme and activity can result in reduced anxiety in the child.
As a play team we have devised play
programmes to encourage development, help with anxiety with medical procedures and food aversions.
We’re always thinking of innovative ways to update and move forward with our tools to use, for example in 2015 I developed a story book called ‘Charlie’s Kidney’ to use with young children who are preparing for a kidney transplant. This has proved successful and is regularly used.
We often work with local businesses and charities to be able to provide the children with treats for a positive experience. This really boosts their morale at a difficult time in their lives. We develop close relationships with children and young people as well as siblings and families, which can have emotional difficulties in some circumstances but enables us to make their hospital experience a little easier, particularly for young patients who visit regularly.
CONNECT MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2019 15