How hospital's play team is transforming care for young cancer patients

Jude Brown was confronted with every parent’s worst nightmare when her five-year-old daughter, Robyn, was diagnosed with cancer in January. Since then, one very special group of NHS staff have made a huge difference.

“Everything happened so fast,” said Ms Brown, from Ayr.

“One minute we were getting ready for a trip to Disneyland, and the next our lives had completely changed.

“From the very beginning, the play team made such a huge difference.”

Ms Brown had noticed blood in the urine of her daughter, initially believing it was a urinary tract infection, they quickly realising it was in fact something far worse.

She took her daughter to the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, where she was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour on her left kidney. There, Robyn was introduced to health play specialist Maureen Houston, who used toy versions of medical equipment to explain to the youngster what procedures she would go through, as a means of breaking it down so the five-year-old would understand.

Ms Brown said: “When we actually went down for the real thing, Robyn was great and knew exactly what to expect and what all the noises sounded like, so it made her totally relaxed about the whole situation.”

Ms Brown recalled having to tell her daughter that she would temporarily lose her hair due to the 10-12 hour chemotherapy sessions.

She said: “I was really upset about it. How do I tell my daughter she is going to lose her blonde curls?

“I spoke to Maureen, and she offered to come and speak to Robyn about it. She brought in a doll that didn’t have hair and explained, in a kind but factual way, that her hair was going to be ‘having a rest’ because of her medicine, but that it would come back.

“Robyn was very accepting of it all, and it made such a difference.

“The days are long, but the play team helps break the days up massively.

“They constantly pop in with toys, games or even just for a chat. As a parent, you’re terrified, but it meant there was someone coming through the door from the Play Team rather than a medical member of staff.”

Ms Brown has credited the play team for helping her daughter feel normal, despite her circumstances.

She said: “If you bump into any of the Play Team, they know Robyn by name and always ask how she is doing.

“Everyone works to make sure that my little girl doesn’t have to think about the fact that her appearance has changed. They make her feel like the gorgeous wee girl she is.”

She added: “Robyn is princess-obsessed, and they would go and try to find the exact thing she wanted.

“They always go above and beyond. I don’t know how they do what they do, especially working with children going through so much, but it never comes across to the children. There is constant positivity and joy from them and I think that’s a really amazing thing.

“The difference they’ve made to Robyn and our family is incredible. They have helped make an unimaginably difficult situation that little bit easier.”

The Health Play Team and programme at the RHC is supported by Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, which funded more than £1 million of play and entertainment projects at the hospital last year.

Jamie Redfern, director of the Royal Hospital for Children, said: “Our Health Play Team plays a vital role in helping children and families navigate what can be an incredibly challenging time.

“Through specialist play, preparation and emotional support, they help reduce fear and anxiety, giving children like Robyn the confidence to understand and cope with their treatment.

“I am incredibly proud of the compassion, dedication and expertise they bring to supporting our young patients every day.”