Scheme to help children combat hospital fears

A SCHEME aimed at helping children combat their fear of being in hospital, is to be rolled out across Scotland, it was announced today.

Health Secretary Alex Neil visited Yorkhill Hospital over the weekend to meet children receiving treatment . Picture: Julie Bull

The hospital passport scheme was developed by psychologists at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow (Yorkhill) and has been tried out at children’s wards on the site.

Children can use the passport around the hospital collecting stickers and stamps as they go through various treatments, or go to different departments.

The scheme aims to make children feel more at ease, and more involved in their treatment and care during their time in hospital.

Scotland’s health Secretary Alex Neil visited Yorkhill hospital today to meet some of the children who have benefitted from the passport as he announced the scheme would be rolled out to the rest of the country.

Mr Neil said: “I am delighted that the passport is now to be rolled out to other children’s hospitals across Scotland, and I hope it can make a difference to the experiences of more children and their families.”