Weekend play helps Leeds hospital families feel less alone

A hospital stay can take away much of a child’s everyday life. In Leeds, having someone to play with at the weekend is helping families feel less alone.

Ten-year-old Ben told the BBC that making things and using a virtual-reality headset made hospital less boring. His mum, Kirstie, said extending play support beyond weekdays made a real difference during his cancer treatment.

Leeds Children’s Hospital now offers specialist play seven days a week. The team helps children understand procedures, find distractions and keep something familiar in their day.

In a new account from Leeds Hospitals Charity, another parent, Georgia, describes how a breathing exercise helped her four-year-old son, Jenson, feel calmer during injections and other procedures.

The charity reports an average of 338 therapeutic play sessions each week. Donations keep this extra support available, so families’ access to it relies on continued fundraising.

For Ben and Jenson, play can give children and parents moments of comfort and choice during difficult treatment.

Sources

• BBC News — Ben and Kirstie’s experience of weekend play
• Leeds Hospitals Charity — Jenson’s experience, service delivery and funding