Evelina London therapeutic and specialised play service.
Our highly skilled team of play specialists are here to support you and your family at Evelina London.
We’re the ones in the pink T-shirts, come find us.
Don’t be shy to speak to us, we’re here to help.
I’m a play worker, so wear a yellow T-shirt.
Come and find me for something fun to do.
As play specialists0:22we’re here to support children, young people and families through therapeutic play sessions.
What does therapeutic play mean?
Good question!
Therapeutic play techniques are a great way to reduce anxiety, and help children understand their illness and treatment.
It can be a stressful time coming into an unfamiliar place, like a ward or a clinic.
Normalising and therapeutic play can help “normalise” being in hospital.
Play is familiar and fun.
Our team can use play to prepare for a procedure or even distract from a procedure when it is being done.
Play is a useful way to help children and young people cope while in hospital and can be an important part of recovery.
A vital part of childhood, through play, we learn to communicate, develop social skills, and express ourselves.
No one is too young to be seen by a play specialist.
A play session with your little one can give you time out for that cuppa.
We can involve everyone - babies, children, teens, young adults, even the grown-ups!
In fact, play activities might be part of a care plan involving parents, carers, doctors, nurses or other members of the paediatric team, like dietitians or physiotherapists.
For a moment of calm away from the ward, for our neurodivergent, disabled children and young people,as a relaxing space for a whole family, we have a magical sensory room!
Play specialist: I love bringing my patients here, it’s so calm.
Have you been there? You’d love it. Go try it.
Narrator: We can also come to your bedside with our sensory voyager; a mobile trolley with sensory toys on.
Play can be anywhere. Each of our wards also has a good selection of toys, books and activities for all ages.
We are also here to talk. Our young adults have used the play team to speak up for them in difficult situations.
Although there is no obligation to talk, we are here if they need to.
Teenagers might just want to so they can use the WiFi, borrow a book, grab a games console and that's fine too. Just ask, talk to us, say “hello”!
We are available for both inpatients staying in hospital and outpatients visiting clinics at Evelina London.
Everyone is welcome to use our play service.
We'll tailor our specialist care to help you all settle in, provide activities, use play to prepare for procedures support siblings and help with stress.
We’ll help you to understand and cope with ongoing treatment and long term care.
And we make sure that you have fun along the way!
Look out for the pink and yellow T-shirts. See you soon!
Introduce yourself to our health play specialists and play workers when you next visit.
You can also contact our medical team to make a referral or self-refer by emailing PlaySpecialists@gstt.nhs.uk.