This Play in Healthcare Week, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible Play Specialists and Youth Support teams who bring care, comfort and creativity to children in hospitals across the UK.

At Bright Futures, we’re privileged to work closely with these remarkable teams across our partner hospitals. Every day, we see the transformative impact of play in healthcare; how it brings smiles, builds resilience, and makes hospital stays a little brighter for children and young people.

Play: More Than Just Fun

Play isn’t just a distraction; it’s an essential part of paediatric healthcare. Play Specialists are highly trained professionals who use play therapeutically to support children through medical experiences.

Through play, children can:

• Find a sense of normality in an unfamiliar environment
• Express emotions when words are hard to find
• Understand and prepare for procedures through role play and creative activities
• Develop coping strategies to manage fear, anxiety and uncertainty

The evidence is clear: play reduces the need for general anaesthetics, shortens waiting times, and improves recovery outcomes. It’s a simple concept with an extraordinary impact.

(Source: NHS England – Play Well: Guidelines for Commissioning and Designing Health Play Services)

Supporting Young People Beyond Childhood

Play in healthcare doesn’t stop at childhood. Youth Support teams extend this vital work to teenagers and young adults, helping them navigate the emotional and social challenges of treatment and hospital life. They provide safe spaces to connect, express themselves, and retain a sense of identity, even during long stays or complex treatments.

Thank You to Our Partners

We’re proud to work alongside such dedicated professionals. Our Bright Futures in-hospital workshops simply wouldn’t be possible without their insight, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to children’s wellbeing.

This Play in Healthcare Week, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to every Play Specialist and Youth Support worker who brings light, laughter, and comfort to hospital wards every day. You truly make hospital stays brighter for every child and young person.