New accessible tablets entertain and support young patients
29th October, 2024
Health play specialist Gemma’s half-marathon raised the funds to allow Friends of Moorfields to provide the equipment.
Young patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital are benefitting from new tablets that help them have the best possible experience during their eye appointments.
Health play specialist Gemma ran a half-marathon last year for Friends of Moorfields, raising an incredible £3590 to fund the tablets. Gemma and the rest of the team are now using the tablets with the young patients they support – not only for play but also to distract them, help prepare them for procedures, and even enable better communication.
The young patients at Moorfields often have visual impairments, so they need items adapted to their needs, such as large-screen displays and accessibility features like zoom, voiceover and contrasting colours. The team also need communication board and typing apps so that children who are non-verbal or deaf can have a voice during their time in hospital. For all children, tablets are a welcome distraction and comfort at stressful times.
“Children have a right to play, and this doesn’t change during their time in hospital,” says Gemma. “Play in hospital provides children with a sense of normality during a time which can be challenging for them.”
Research bears this out. In a recent survey, 95% of responses reported that children who played seem to have had a more positive healthcare experience.
“It’s wonderful to see the children enjoying the new tablets,” says Friends of Moorfields chief executive Angela Smith. “It’s clear what a difference it makes to how they feel when they’re here. We’re pleased to be able to support young patients in a variety of ways – from paying the salaries of health play specialists to funding toys and magazines.”