Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital team wins national award
A children’s hospital has been recognised for its outstanding dedication and innovation in using play to enhance the experience for young patients.
Starlight, a charity for children’s play in hospitals and hospices, has praised the work being done at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
It said despite many challenges, the team has consistently demonstrated the importance of play in helping children and families navigate the often-daunting environment.
Starlight holds the annual Health Play Awards to recognise inspirational healthcare professionals who work to ensure every child experiences the power of play.
It can reduce fear, pain and trauma, so the charity advocates for this during a child’s treatment and recovery from illness.
The hospital won the Play Team of the Year award.
Speaking about the impact of the accolade, the play service manager, Heather Beattie said: “The entire team is just ecstatic. This recognition comes at such a pivotal time for us, and I can't stress enough how much it means.
“We've been through an incredibly busy and, at times, challenging periods.
“This award feels like a culmination of all that hard work, like a bright light that has given everyone a moment to pause, reflect and remember why we do what we do.”
Sarah Simpson, secretary to allied health professionals at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, said: “This dedicated, highly professional team, led by Heather Beattie, works tirelessly to provide patients with as pleasant and fun a hospital experience as possible.
“They understand how frightening being hospital can be and come up with ways to remove the fear and stress from the situations these young people find themselves in.”
Cathy Gilman, chief executive of Starlight, said: “The team at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital embodies the spirit of what we strive to achieve through play in healthcare settings.
“Despite very little resource they are ingenious in the many ways that they help to make hospital a place where children can feel safe, supported and even find joy amidst their treatment is truly inspiring. We are thrilled to honour them as Play Team of the Year 2024.”
Visit www.starlight.org.uk to find out more about the charity.
