Making
hospital
less scary
A lasting legacy
Cathy and Charlie Doll teach 11-year-old
Lucy about blood tests
Thanks to your generous support, new anatomically correct dolls are helping
children through their experience in hospital. Donations have also funded a
mobile multi-sensory unit, which can be wheeled to children’s beds to provide
a more stimulating environment.
‘I wouldn’t be able to do my job without extras like these dolls,’ play
specialist Cathy Gill says. She uses them to explain to a child what it means
to have a catheter inserted. They can also be used to show what x-rays are for,
or demonstrating how a blood test works – really useful for children who suffer
from needle phobia.
‘If it wasn’t for our donors, life in hospital wouldn’t be the same for these
children,’ Cathy says.
Our new mobile sensory unit can be used by any child, but it is specially
designed for those with special needs. It’s brightly lit with constantly changing
colours, reflected by mirrors onto the surrounding walls. Children can explore its
shapes a nd textures, or become mesmerised by glowing bubbles whizzing around
in front of their eyes.
‘When we bring the sensory unit to the child’s bed, their parents’ faces beam,’
says play specialist Julie Ainsworth.
‘Things like these toys are the tools of our trade as play specialists. They make
the child’s stay in hospital as secure and non-scary as possible.’
Dulcie an
d Jasmin
enjoying
e
the sens
ory unit
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A wonderful gift left in the will of staff member Dr Eva Carlson is supporting
research and development in the Speech and Language Therapy Service at
Guy’s and St Thomas’.
The donation of more than £7,000 will allow therapists to attend and present
at national and international academic conferences.
Dr Carlson worked at St Thomas’ for more than 30 years until her retirement
in April 2007 and was the Clinical Lead Speech and Language therapist for
many years.
Her former colleague Ann Whitehorn, now semi-retired Trust Head of Speech
and Language Therapy, was pleased but not surprised to hear of her friend’s
generosity.
‘It makes enormous sense
because Eva was very passionate
about all therapists, however
busy they might be clinically, to
have the opportunity to develop
their own research skills,’ Ann
says.
‘Eva was extremely good at
praising the successes of others
and encouraging them to even
greater achievements,’ Ann says.
‘Those of us who were fortunate
enough to work alongside her
will be forever in her debt.’
Your will written for free
Leaving a gift in your will is a wonderful way to give back. As members of
the National Free Wills Network, we are pleased to offer any supporter aged
over 50 the opportunity to have a simple will written by a qualified solicitor
for FREE.
Call us 020 7848 4701 or go to www.supportgstt.org.uk/freewill
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