Southampton healthcare professionals recognised with charity award

Claire Pickett, Health Play Specialist at Southampton Children’s Hospital, has been recognised as the country’s Health Play Specialist of the Year 2022, whilst Louise Oliver, Play Leader also at Southampton Children’s Hospital has been awarded the runner up of the Protector of Play category at this year’s Starlight’s Health Play Awards.

Run by the UK’s leading health play charity, Starlight, the Health Play Awards marks the start of National Play in Hospital Week (10 to 14 October) and recognise the dedication, ingenuity and resilience of play specialists and other health professionals who are changing the experience of hospital treatment for children through the power of play.

Health play specialists like Claire work directly with children in hospitals, hospices and other health settings, empowering them to understand more about their treatment, develop coping techniques, distract them during procedures and support their mental health whilst they’re undergoing treatment. Play leaders such as Louise ensure that every child has access to play to help relax and distract them and deal with anxieties during their time in hospital.

As a health play specialist on an oncology ward Claire is an expert at helping to break up the day for children who are often in hospital for a long period of time. She offers a friendly face to children of all ages who can offload and play as she helps them understand their diagnosis and prepare for treatment.

Louise works across three different wards working with children who have had strokes to those with mental health conditions. She gives children the chance to cook, explore messy play, meet a therapy dog and much more.

Speaking about her new award Claire said: “I’m shocked I’ve won. I feel really honoured and privileged that the work I’ve done is appreciated. The families always tell you how much we are valued, but to know that they took the time to fill out the nomination form is quite overwhelming. I can’t make the children on the cancer ward better, but I can make their time in hospital better. Being there for them and giving them the opportunity to play means that their time can be the best it can be.”

Charlotte Fairall, whose daughter Sophie was looked after by Claire before she sadly died from cancer aged 10, said: ““Claire was just amazing. Without her, we might not have got Sophie to have chemo. Sophie really didn’t want to start treatment, she didn’t want to lose her hair and when she did it was so hard for her. Claire took the time to show Sophie around the ward and where she would have her treatment and made it feel like a fun and safe space for Sophie. Had it not been for Claire we would not have been able to get her to go through all those treatments.”

Louise said of her recognition: ““I’m touched beyond words to receive this award and blown away to have even been considered. Hand on heart, I can truly say I love my job as a Play Leader and feel extremely privileged to have met so many incredible children and families, whilst in this role, and been a very small part of their hospital journey. Seeing the difference normal play can make to a child’s development, rehab, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing in hospital is heart-warming, and I will continue to champion its importance and the role of Play Leaders within the hospital environment."

Dana Fry, whose daughter Mylah was looked after by Louise before she sadly passed away from a rare liver disease in 2018, said: ““When I first met Louise I was in such a state, I was the most anxious I’d ever been so when she introduced herself to me but I just shrugged it off, I didn’t want to see or speak to anyone. But she kept on trying. She was always checking up on me, asking if we wanted to have some playtime with Mylah and eventually she wore me down and I let her in. And I’m so grateful I did. I cannot sing her praises enough. She really helped me through hell.”

She added: “Mylah and Louise did a lot of messy play which was either a jelly bath or slime or anything that made a big mess! Mylah loved it so much and it was so lovely to watch. I remember once Louise must have spent hours at home preparing spaghetti with food colouring for Mylah to do some sensory play, she was so kind.”

Cathy Gilman, Chief Executive of Starlight, said: “It’s people like Claire and Louise who are our real life superheroes. They make children’s stays in hospital the best they can be. It’s clear that they both work extremely hard for every child on their Southampton wards, making very difficult experiences the best they can be. They are both an inspiration.”

Claire and Louise join six other finalists in the charity’s fifth year of the awards, which also celebrates Play Team of the Year and Mentor of the Year. This year the awards are supported by Ryman with prizes for the finalists which include vouchers to help stock children’s wards with toys, games, and arts equipment.

During National Play in Hospital Week Starlight have released their latest report (Play in Hospital 2022), which illustrates how the pandemic has impacted the level of already inadequate funding for play resources around the country, including in Southampton.

The report finds many healthcare settings are failing to employ any play specialists at all, whilst others are struggling to fund even the most basic play resources. It also highlights that access to play has significantly reduced since the onset of the pandemic and that there are still many full or partial playroom closures as well as multiple restrictions on group play activities available in UK hospitals.

Starlight is urgently calling for healthcare settings to make a bigger priority of children's play as they emerge from the pandemic, and to reopen playrooms wherever possible. In the longer-term, the charity is calling for healthcare providers and commissioners to better recognise the vital role of children’s play to their wellbeing, resilience and recovery, and to see health play specialists as an integral part of children's healthcare workforce.

To support the improvement of play provision in children’s healthcare, Starlight and NHS England have established a joint Taskforce on Children’s Play in Healthcare, with the health play specialist professional bodies and a range of sector specialists to develop the relevant programmes of work.