NEWS FEED
Children are being encouraged to bring a favourite cuddly toy to the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (RBCH) teddy bear clinic to be held at an interactive open day.
Run by the Emergency Department (ED), the teddy bear clinic will give children the opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting. This will be the first time that a teddy bear clinic has run at the trust and it is hoped that children will find visiting the hospital and talking to medical staff less daunting.
Chris Spencer, senior sister in the Emergency Department said: “Taking part in our teddy bear clinic will mean that children are able to have fun while learning new skills, such as how to put on a sling and how to treat small cuts and grazes.
“Coming into hospital can be really frightening for children, whether accompanying a carer, visiting, or attending as a patient. We hope that by running the clinic at the open day, we will be able to provide reassurance, build trust and make any future visits to hospital less scary.”
Staff from ED will also be offering short taster sessions on child first aid, teaching basic skills such as what to do if a child is choking, as well as providing opportunities for the public to ask questions.
Claire Liggins, Emergency Department matron said: “We are really looking forward to sharing our knowledge at the open day. It’s the perfect forum for building strong relationships with the public, hearing their views on our services and supporting them to respond to emergency situations with confidence.”
Other child friendly activities on offer include a treasure hunt, a birds of prey display, a craft area and a fancy dress competition, where children are asked to dress up as a medical superhero for a prize.
The interactive open day is on Saturday 10 September at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital between 10am and 4pm.
For more information, please visit the RBCH website http://www.rbch.nhs.uk/index.php or Trust Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RBCHTrust/.
