English hospitals are experiencing a shortage of health play professionals, which a leading charity's analysis suggests is exposing children with serious illnesses to avoidable trauma. These professionals are employed to support children through the anxiety and trauma of medical treatment by offering play opportunities.
Figures obtained by the Starlight Children’s Foundation through freedom of information requests indicate there are 955 full-time equivalent health play professionals across NHS hospitals in England. These staff support 21 million child hospital admissions each year, resulting in a ratio of about one professional for every 22,061 admissions. This is considerably lower than the recommended level of one professional per 2,230 admissions.
Research suggests that positive healthcare experiences, aided by health play professionals, can reduce distress, improve cooperation, and help prevent lifelong healthcare avoidance and mental health issues linked to traumatic childhood healthcare experiences. Filly, now 13, recalled how health play helped her feel less anxious during her treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The Starlight Children’s Foundation also found that only 23% of NHS trusts and health boards in the UK have dedicated budgets for training health play professionals. Additionally, no integrated care board (ICB) has a dedicated health play budget, and only 5% of ICBs include health play in their children and young people’s strategies.
Cathy Gilman, chief executive of Starlight, stated that play is an essential part of effective children's healthcare, helping children understand what is happening, gain a sense of control, and reduce fear.