Jo Cross

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the launch of new resources designed to help the NHS plan and deliver high-quality health play services. Developed in partnership with @starlight_uk, they recognise the importance of therapeutic play for babies, children and young people

On Saturday, we had our second in-person youth panel session! 🫡 Our panellists came up with brilliant ideas for a youth consultation research project, and took on a Dragon's Den style afternoon of developing a new, youth-led version of our Play Well Box. 💚 Watch this space!

Last week, we celebrated the fantastic winners of our Health Play Awards 2024. 🏆 Big thank you to @TheoPaphitis and #tprg, and @emmasamms1 for joining us. 💚 It was a fantastic night full of celebration of what we do and the amazing people we support!

In case you missed it 👇 Our Head of Policy Adrian Voce and @DrTomRance have co-written an article on the importance of protecting and providing play for children receiving healthcare.

What an absolutely brilliant show at the Phoenix Exeter, @EllesBailey you and your band were amazing :)

Happy Play In Healthcare Week 🩷🎨🧸 #playinhealthcare2024 #playteam #play #fun #games #powerofplay

Day 5 of #pihw we ended our play week by throwing a party for all of our patients, thank you to @bambamtheentertainer for the fun and entertainment ⭐️ it was a great end to a week where we got to celebrate all things play and talk about just how important it is ❤️

@animalencounters visited @NCHPlayService , patients and families @nottmchildrens @nottmhospitals for PIHW everyone had an amazing time @starlight_uk @nahpsofficial

HEALTH PLAY AWARDS 2024 🏆 It would NOT be Play in Healthcare Week without celebrating the excellence of our health play community who work tirelessly all year round to make healthcare more accessible and FUN for children. 🧸 Read on to find out who won... @nahpsofficial

@NCHPlayService where able to treat our patients this week to celebrate PIHW due to our kind donations of crafts & gifts from @amazon to @nottmchildrens @nottmhospitals where always very grateful @starlight_uk @nahpsofficial especially this time of year promoting PIHW

It's Play in Healthcare Week! 💚 We cannot tell you just HOW excited we are for this week's events. From free play packs, our AWARDS(!) and the official release of our PIHW 2024 report, there's lots to look forward to! ⭐ Join in on the action by using the hashtag #PIHW2024

Super excited about @starlight_uk conference hosted at @RCPCHtweets & online discussing how we amplify the importance of play in healthcare to improve outcomes & experiences for/with Children, it’s great @Paul_Lindley will be the key note speaker too! 🌟 @WeCYPnurses

Draft agenda for the Society of Health play specialists Well being study day Friday 11th October hosted by @leedscitycoll bookings open on the SoHPS website sohps.org.uk @PenHartSpencer @IreneodonnelO @lee_pryor3076 @spreadasmileuk @starlight_uk

We want play to be at the top of everyone's agenda during the upcoming election. Our manifesto for play is calling on politicians to promise children that government policy will support play as part of a happy, healthy childhood. 👉 Sign the play pledge: ow.ly/8Sq750Slxe3

⭐️What an incredible day at the @CCLG_UK conference! So proud to have presented about my role as a Health Play Specialist in Proton Beam Therapy🌟 Great to meet @ashleysgamble & to see Wendy @LPTrustUK again✨️ Thank you to everyone who organised such a wonderful event 💫

📢 We've got new, FREE resources for Health Play Professionals! Need a sign to use to remind staff to call for a play specialist? Or maybe you need a Play Specialist referral form? 👉🏻 Head to the 'Resources for Health Play Professionals' section: starlight.org.uk/how-we-help/he…

Play isn't a 'nice to have' for children in hospital. Our CEO, Cathy Gilman, shares how vital play is in reducing trauma for children in healthcare and the urgent need for appropriate play services across the UK. 👉🏿 Read here: ow.ly/7iZE50Q0cXO

Sooo exciting another amazing delivery from @starlight_uk this is the sensory box perfect for distraction! @UHP_NHS @AnnJamesNHS @CHDUCAUsisterB1 @tishtoshtash88 @kimpauling85 @DerrifordNurses @jocross68 #playtherapy #distraction #starlight

We have recently received these wonderful role play BBQ and Pizza oven from Roma and her family. Thank you for thinking of our patients. They are really enjoying playing with these.

Thank you to Becca Evans, family and friends for this wonderful donation. You always pick the right items, particularly for our patients that are having to stay in a cubicle.