Sir, – As this week saw the the UN’s first International Day of Play, I’d like to bring to light the power of play for children and young people but more specifically the power of play in their hospital visit.
For a child or young person in hospital, play can create a sense of fun, normality and distraction during what can be a very scary and distressing time. A growing body of research suggests play can help reduce the fear, anxiety and trauma which can be associated with hospital procedures and helps children and young people build the skills to cope with their illness better.
Often, children in long-term hospital care miss out on the developmental opportunities they would receive in day-to-day life in areas of school, sports and clubs. Play in hospital bridges this gap.
The Government has committed to developing a National Play Policy in 2025 which will replace the 2004 National Play Policy “Ready Steady Play”. I’d like to call on the Government to ensure that the provision of play in hospital is recognised in this policy and will be appropriately resourced.
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Through a recent survey we carried out across the paediatric hospitals and units across Ireland, we see an under-resourcing in play for children in hospital. We advocate for increased financial and staff resourcing for this work in order to ensure that every child in hospital has the opportunity to play. – Yours, etc,
ANNA GUNNING,
CEO,
Children in Hospital Ireland,
Dublin 18.