As Play in Healthcare Week gets under way across the UK, the Highland Children's Unit at Raigmore Hospital is celebrating the success of two of its staff qualifying as health play specialists, thanks to the Archie Foundation.
The charity is also marking the week with the launch of a fundraising campaign across the North of Scotland, to pay for additional play specialists and toys for young patients who are in hospital.
Amanda McBean and Serena Hallam passed the foundation degree in Healthcare Play Specialism with flying colours and are now registered Health Play Specialists (HPS), a vital role to support the unintended impact of extended stays in hospital on children.
Research shows 1.8 million 0–17-year-olds were admitted as in patients to hospitals across the UK in 2021/22 and there are less than 600 qualified HPSs.
Amanda and Serena are two of three Health Play Specialists in Highland Children’s Unit.
Amanda, who worked in maternity care before qualifying as a play specialist, said: “We are over the moon to have passed with distinction. It has been a lot of work over the past two years to achieve the competencies that are required to become a play specialist.
“You can’t complete this course in Scotland so we had to travel to Surrey every other week and we couldn’t have done it without the financial support of The Archie Foundation. Now we are qualified, we have a real opportunity to support the children and young people here in the Highlands.”
Serena has more than 20 years of experience in childcare within various settings.
“Knowing we can help so many more children is a great feeling,” she said. “We were restricted while we were students, building up our ideas and learning from our mentor. Now we are registered we can help a lot more children by putting all the skills and knowledge we have gained into practice. Play can make a real difference for children who are in hospital and undergo different procedures which can feel very scary to them.”
Over half of children said they were worried or scared of visiting the doctor or hospital and health play specialists have a vital role in alleviating their concerns.
HPS tailor the approach based on the child’s age and stage, using things like puppets, bubbles and squeaky toys for young children, or helping to explain the stages of falling asleep to a nervous teenager.
As part of Play in Healthcare Week, an annual celebration of play in children's and young people's healthcare settings, Serena and Amanda will introduce games such as Tiddlywinks, Twister, and marbles to the children at Raigmore Hospital to match this year’s theme, celebrating 50 years of play.
The Archie Foundation champions the power of play in hospital settings and sponsored Amanda and Serena to complete their qualifications.
Chief executive of the Archie Foundation, Paula Cormack said: “We are very proud of Amanda and Serena and pleased children in the Highlands will benefit from their expertise and knowledge. Play practitioners have a vital role in providing reassurance, company and comfort for young patients and it’s fantastic timing with Play in Hospital Week getting underway.
“For a child, even surrounded by machines and monitors, the instinct to play never really disappears - it just needs a little help to find its way through. We are very grateful for every donation to our play appeal, which will help us to provide even more opportunities for children to play while they are in hospital.”
Raising awareness of The Archie Foundation and the work it does to provide support for babies, children and families across the North of Scotland, including bereavement counselling, is crucial to supporting fundraising as well as reaching those who need help.
Throughout this week, the charity is appealing for additional support to fund extra play staff, specialist training and equipment as well as toys for children across Grampian, Tayside and the Highlands.
To donate £5 to the play appeal, please text ARCHIEPLAY to 70470. This will cost £5 plus one standard network rate message (over 18s only; please ask for the bill payer’s permission before you text to donate).
For more information about the financial and practical support offered to babies, children and families by The Archie Foundation, visit https://archie.org