Play in Healthcare Week 2024

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Play in Healthcare Week (PIHW – formerly known as Play in Hospital Week) is a very special week which aims to raise awareness of the benefits and importance of play in healthcare settings.

Play is an essential part of childhood and is at the very heart of mental, social and emotional growth and well-being. It is important that play continues to be part of a child’s life, even when they are admitted to hospital – a time when they are at their most vulnerable.

For PIHW 2024 (14-18 October), Spread a Smile once again went all out to make the week even more special than ever before, spreading smiles far and wide to seriously ill children and young people through play.

A record number of in-person visits…

We carried out 30 in person visits to 22 different healthcare settings, reaching hundreds of children and young people – more than ever before! Our entertainers were out in force supporting Play Specialist teams to celebrate this important week by spreading smiles through singing, music, magic, art and much more.

Special trips to Nottingham and Bristol

We enjoyed two lovely days visiting patients at Nottingham Children’s Hospital and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, spreading smiles far and wide,

In conversation with Dr Fiona Hikmet

Dr Fiona Hikmet, Consultant Paediatrician at Princess Alexandra Hospital and Spread a Smile Trustee, kicked off the week with a blog article talking about her experiences of play in hospital and why the work of Spread a Smile is so important.

Anna’s Animals and UCLH

We were delighted to welcome our friends from Anna’s Animals for a special visit to children on the wards at University College Hospital (UCLH). Everyone loved meeting and playing with the animals which provided much needed distraction.

Mila case story          

Mila kindly shared her experiences of Spread a Smile with us, writing a beautiful piece about how the charity helped her through her treatment for cancer.

Play focused virtual visits…

We also ran numerous virtual group sessions focusing on play based activities for patients and siblings of all ages. These included two LEGO play workshops, interactive storytelling, magic with Makaton, magic with puppetry workshop, a play themed art group, fairy fun, games and more.

Our aim is to help distract, relieve fear and stress and create a safe, welcoming environment during treatment and hospital admissions.

We are so proud of our achievements for PIHW 2024 and would like to say a huge thank you to our Spread a Smile Entertainers, the hospital play teams, Anna’s Animals, our friends from the LEGO Group and everyone who has helped make it so special.

To donate to help ensure we can continue our vital work, please click here.