Hospital therapeutic play specialist Wendy Stocki describes a busy week in her life working at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Monday
I'm part of the Department of Therapeutic Play based at the hospital's endocrinology day unit. Children needing hormone investigation attend the unit to undergo blood tests and scans, which can be daunting. I explain procedures and calm children in preparation for the investigations.
One of today's cases is a frightened teenager. Part of his fear is the number of people he thinks will be in the treatment room and the needle. Some visual explanation is needed so I get out the 'blood dog' (a soft-bodied dog with a cannula which contains food colouring). We attach a tube to the dog and use a syringe to draw back the food colouring. This activity allows him to become familiar with the medical equipment that will be used. The session goes well and I offer more preparation for future visits.
I then drive to Preston to represent the play department at a bench-marking paediatric pain meeting.
Tuesday
We deal with children from ten days old to 18 years old and I've spent a lot of time making the playroom and treatment room visually stimulating with a variety of toys and activities.
I use basic play both before and after procedures so I can pick up on worries and help relaxation. One example is bubble blowing which helps to slow down a child's breathing. They have fun and are unaware I'm preparing them.
Today, a four-year-old girl meets me at the doorway and says she'd like to stay and play but can she take the little tube (cannula) with her instead? It's my first challenge of the day and there's more to follow. Two sisters, three and four years old, need blood tests and refuse to leave each other during procedure.
Wednesday
The day starts with a consultant-led meeting and then the nurses and I rush back to the unit. I'm preparing a five-year-old for an MRI scan in the hope he won't need sedation.
We look at pictures of the scan machine and listen to a recording of the noises it makes. I ask him to use his imagination and give each noise a name, for example Bob the Builder's drill or a washing machine.
I assess he'll cope with the scan so, with stickers, certificate and his space helmet (head coil) on, he enters his rocket (scan tunnel) for an adventure in space. I'm his second in command and we've devised a secret code, a tap on his leg with my finger, to remind him to keep still.
Thursday
I prepare a child for theatre and accompany her to the anaesthetic room to carry out a planned distraction. All goes well and there's just time to order some resources from my play budget before lunch.
Time is ticking on for me to complete a talk that I'm presenting to the endocrinology team tomorrow.
Friday
This morning I make a home visit to a four-year-old who's afraid of hospitals. I go armed with photographs of the unit and staff, and a book about magic cream (local anaesthetic cream). I'm pleased with the preparation, but the day of the procedure will tell all.
Next I attend a meeting to discuss a document compiled to use within the trust's three hospitals. It consists of short- and long-term play programmes and developmental assessments.
My wobbly legs then take me to my presentation. I talk about the positive outcomes of preparation play in aiding children in hospitals, using findings gained from an audit I carried out. It's well received and I hope it will raise my role's profile and increase the referrals for play preparation.
I'm relieved it's the end of the week, but my job is very rewarding. It's wonderful when we receive positive feedback from parents saying how our intervention helped overcome their child's fear.
