Appeal to improve access to play in hospital

Ruby (right) has been a patient at Leeds Children's Hospital since April and values the support she gets from play specialist Megan Harpham (left)

A charity has launched a £500,000 appeal to ensure children in hospital have access to play seven days a week.

The Leeds Hospitals Charity said expanding the service would enable the play teams to support hundreds more seriously ill children.

It said 11,000 children stayed at Leeds Children's Hospital in 2023.

Play in hospital has a number of benefits for children and helps to reduce stress and anxiety for younger patients, the charity added.

A report published this week by the charity Starlight said children in hospital who do not have the chance to play are at risk of developing trauma and mental health problems.

Leeds Children's Hospital currently has a team of around 30 play specialists who run a range of activities for patients including crafts, video games and baking.

It costs around £106 a day to fund a play worker and although some wards in Leeds have dedicated play leaders and specialists, funding means some patients have no access to play at all and other patients miss out on play at the weekend.

Lisa Beaumont, therapeutic and specialised play manager at Leeds Children’s Hospital, said many patients feel "overwhelmed" when they visit hospital.

"It’s an unfamiliar environment where they sometimes need to undergo painful procedures.

"It’s our job as the play team to be there for every sick child in hospital to help support their often long and difficult journey while also bringing some fun and laughter along the way."

Leeds Children's Hospital currently has a team of around 30 play specialists like Megan Harpham (left)

The charity has produced a promotional video , which features the voice of theatre star Alfie Boe, as part of its fundraising campaign.

Ruby, 16, is one of the patients appearing in it.

The teenager has Williams Syndrome, a developmental disorder which means she is susceptible to infection and needs support with a range of health issues, and has been in hospital since April.

"I have friendships with the play leaders, they're very nice to me, they play with me and they like to chat to me and make me laugh," Ruby said.

"It would be good to have them seven days a week - let's do it!"

"To be able to put a smile on a child's face when they come into hospital, which is probably the worst time of their life, is just amazing," said play specialist Megan Harpham.

"I help them understand their conditions, help them get ready for a procedure, or help them deal with the highs and lows of being in hospital."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.