Refurbished playroom at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children
The playroom at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children has been declared officially re-open, after undergoing a £10,000 refurbishment.
The dedicated area, where children and young people staying in hospital can get away from the ward and take their mind off their condition or illness, underwent a top-to-toe makeover thanks to generous funding from Momentum Children’s Charity and the Toy Trust.
Play Specialist Amanda Laughton said: “Having great play facilities is a really important part of the service we provide, and it’s absolutely vital to our young patients. Our playroom provides our patients with the space they need to relax, enjoy themselves and provides a welcome distraction from the hospital ward and their illness. Play is also a very important therapeutic tool for staff on the wards, as it allows us to discuss a child’s condition with them, and understand a bit better about how they’re feeling.”
“The playroom walls now depict a lovely green scenery with the sky filled with beautiful butterflies, hot air balloons and a colourful giant rainbow. The children love it being so bright! On the other side of the room, we have desks, notebooks and stationery for teenagers, which is great as the room now caters for both age groups.”
Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles, who had the honour of declaring the newly refurbished room open (with the help of a young patient), said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to Momentum and the Toy Trust. The playroom looks great and will definitely be uplifting for our young patients. Having a nice playroom and toys can often be comforting, a distraction from their stay in hospital, fun to play with, a way to relieve boredom and motivation for recovery and rehabilitation. We also recognise that some toys can help some children to relieve any anxieties that they may face regarding their stay away from home. We hope that the refurbishment will help make staying in hospital a little better for our young patients.”
