Grants from five different charitable bodies awarded to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity for its Children’s Appeal have enabled it to buy five more Xbox gaming carts for the Children’s Ward and Children’s Outpatients at the Royal Preston Hospital.
The new consignment of customised carts, which are especially made for healthcare environments by Derbyshire company RockinR, were added to the appeal’s shopping list after two carts bought for the Children’s Ward in January proved to be as beneficial to young patients as they were popular.
Nicola Entwistle, the trust’s Matron for Children and Young People, explained: “The two carts that came on to the ward at the beginning of the year very quickly made a big impact, so much so that we felt more were necessary not only for in patients but also, for children being treated on an out-patient basis.
“We were able to see how gaming helped to reduce children’s stress and anxiety. They were better able to cope in hospital and their gaming provided ward staff with a topic of conversation that they could engage in with the children away from talking just about medical procedures.”
Nicola added: “Gaming therefore promoted better interaction between patients and staff, which in turn promoted better communication and less isolation. We are confident gaming’s positive effects will translate to Children’s Outpatients as coming in to hospital even for a short time can be very daunting for young people.”
The grants used to buy the new carts were from the DJ Sidebottom Glasdon Charitable Programme, which gave £2,212.84, The Hedley Trust, which gave £3,000, Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Foundation, which donated £3,319.59, The Harris Charity, which gifted £2,212.84, and the Asda Foundation Green Token Giving, which gave £500.
Fundraising manager Roya Armstrong said: “We are incredibly grateful for all of the grants received towards the gaming carts. The feedback from staff, patients and their parents has been wonderful so we know the carts will not only be much appreciated but also prove to be a valuable wellbeing resource.”
The trust’s Children’s Appeal is aiming to raise £1 million for a variety of items to bring about a raft of improvements to children’s in and outpatients at the Royal Preston Hospital, Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and across other local centres managed by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where children are assessed and treated. To watch a video explaining more about the appeal, become involved or make a donation, go to www.lthcharity.org.uk/childrensappeal