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It’s a shame that the playroom doesn’t get much funding

Posted By Alec69

"It’s a shame that the playroom doesn’t get much funding"

About: Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (Edinburgh) / Play Services St John's Hospital / Paediatrics

(as a parent/guardian),

We attend St Johns Hospital in Livingston on a regular basis and we find all the nurses are helpful , cheery and cooperative. They do whatever it takes to help you in any way they can.

The playroom specialist Jillian is very helpful by doing what she can to help all the patients by interacting with them , cheering them up and getting them anything they need - Jillian is a very nice person.

It’s a shame that the playroom doesn’t get much funding for most things required for to occupy the kids with during their stay - unlike the Royal Hospital for Children & Young People who always seem to have plenty of volunteers down at the hub with lots of activities to do all the time. They also have regular shows going round the wards to occupy the kids whilst at St John’s this happens maybe once every 4/6 months.

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Responses

Response from Margaret McEwan, Play Services Co-Ordinator, Play Services, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People last month
Margaret McEwan
Play Services Co-Ordinator, Play Services,
Royal Hospital for Children and Young People

Submitted on 22/03/2024 at 13:25
Published on Care Opinion at 13:25

Dear Alex69,

Thank you for taking the time to post your story and for your lovely comments about the ward staff and Jillian. I will make sure that Jillian sees your comments and I am sure she will be very grateful that you took the time to post these.

Regarding your comments on the playroom, I would like to reassure you that the play room at St John's does receive the exact same budget as the playrooms at the RHCYP as I have an annual budget for arts and crafts and it is shared equally between all play staff (including Jillian whom I manage). Jillian also has access to the same toys, games, puzzles etc as the staff at the RHCYP and if we receive any additional deliveries or things such as selection boxes, Lego etc, then the Children's ward at St John's is always included. I hope this reassures you, however if you do feel there are any items missing from the playroom such as games, puzzles, toys etc then I would be happy to be contacted and arrange for these items to be sent through to St John's as I do not want any children or young people missing out, simply because of their location.

With regards to existing entertainers to the hospital etc, I would confirm that these are managed and funded by families/charities outwith the NHS but I can certainly raise the question whether there are any who can regularly visit the children's ward in St John's. I will contact staff from the Children's ward to ask them to speak to patients, families etc to advise what type of visitors already visit our wards in Edinburgh and to get feedback on whether they would be interested in them also coming to St John's. This information would then allow me to approach different charities to ask about also providing their services at St Johns.

Kind regards and thank you again for taking the time to post your story.

Margaret McEwan

Play Services Co-Ordinator

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