In Hospital
This is where we began in 2013. Samuel knew how hard it is to get through each day, having to deal with so much pain, fear and constant procedures, medication and side effects. Samuel wanted to give the kids on his ward something to look forward to, some freedom from the suffering and pain.
At Home
There is a huge gap in support for children with serious and complex conditions. According to the Royal College of Nursing 2020 report, only 25% of local authorities in the UK have a community children's nursing team. This statistic underscores the lack of essential services for sick children in the vast majority of local communities.
We created the At Home service to enable children to leave hospital when they wouldn't normally be able to and then support them once they have left hospital. We provide an experienced Community Care Co-ordinator for a local area who will be their for the child and the family.
Find out how we are doing this and how much of an impact it has to our communities
Comfort Kits
It is very scary for a child to go into hospital, especially when it is a serous condition. The fear of the unknow and the prospect of so much medication and procedures is awful.
From the experience of Samuel's parents, and that of many others, we have created a kit to help the kids when they first arrive at hospital
We asked the kids what they needed and we created the kit for them with essentials:
- Headphones. One of the most requested items. The best way to escape the noisy environment of a busty ward and watch a film or YouTube, talk with friends or just listen to music.
- Eye Mask. With nurses and doctors coming in at all times of the day and night this is an essential item to be able to sleep when needed.
- Ear plugs. Just like the eye masks, these can be so useful, especially when rest is needed.
- Stress Ball. This is often the most used item (and parents pinch them too!). When things get stressful it is soothing to have a good stress ball to help.
- Notepad & Pen. Sometimes kids find it's good to write about the journey they go through. Others like to draw or make lists about what they want their parents to buy them that day!
- Mini games or cards. Top Trumps, Uno, playing cards - when screens just get to be too much this is a great way to interact or make friends on the ward