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Trust launches DVDs to help children prepare for hospital

28 April 2009

Chelsea and Westminster has developed two DVDs for children and young people to watch before they come to hospital to show them a little of what to expect and help them prepare for their visit.

Chelsea and Westminster has developed two DVDs for children and young people to watch before they come to hospital to show them a little of what to expect and help them prepare for their visit.

The DVDs, which were funded by the Members’ Council, will be sent to children prior to their planned inpatient treatment and will also be available to download from the Trust’s website.

Alison Webster, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s Play Manager, says: “Two DVDs have been developed, one for children under 10 years of age and a different version for the over 10s, to ensure the information is appropriate for the age of the audience.

“The younger version features two animated characters, Mia and her bear Hozzy, and it is set to music to keep it light-hearted, fun and entertaining. It includes scenes of activities from around the children’s wards and outpatients showing whom children might meet and simple procedures. It also covers key areas like what they should bring with them for their hospital visit and whether their parents can stay with them.

“The older version is a documentary-style production and features real patients describing what their hospital experience was like and asking our staff the questions they wanted answered. It wasn’t scripted, so it is really a DVD which has been created by young people, for young people.

“It’s the first time the Trust has embarked on a project like this, but the DVDs will be a great tool for parents to use when they’re preparing their child to come to hospital and might even answer questions they themselves have.

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George Vasilopoulos