Children who are having surgery at Shropshire’s specialist orthopaedic hospital feel less stressed and more comfortable thanks to the teddy bears donated by Shropshire ‘Teddies for Loving Care’.
The paediatric recovery team at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital use the bears to show children what their Hip Spica cast will look like following their surgery. These special casts are used following hip surgery and hold the hips and thighs in position to support healing after the procedure.
Claire Heathfield, a recovery manager at the hospital, said:
the children absolutely love the bears when they receive one and the scheme is helping staff build a positive relationship with both child and parents which is vital
The team also give the bears to children who are in particular distress and discomfort or those who have shown bravery through a scary time. Having an operation can be an extremely distressing situation for both the child and their parents and these teddies are proving to work effectively as a distraction technique.
Claire went on to say:
We’re delighted to be working with Teddies for Loving Care and the Shropshire Freemasons to give our paediatric patients some comfort during a stressful time
Shropshire Freemasons raise money and volunteer their time to ensure A&E departments, minor injuries units and hospices across the county are supplied with teddies.
