On Thursday the 7 of November, six Giggle Doctors will bring magic, music, silliness and fun to children and staff at Leeds Children’s Hospital!
Since November 2014, Giggle Doctors like Dr Boogie Woogie and Dr Teapot have been visiting Leeds Children’s Hospital. Giggle Doctors are professional performers from Theodora Children’s Charity, who undergo specialist training over two years to equip them to work in hospitals and specialist care centres.
Giggle Doctors work alongside the Play Team at Leeds Children’s Hospital to help reduce stress and anxiety, create opportunities for play, and improve children’s hospital experience. Every Monday, two Giggle Doctors bounce onto the wards to combine music, play, magic and storytelling to bring joy, laughter and magical moments to children when they need it most.
Emma Marshall (Senior Healthcare Play Specialist) at Leeds Children’s Hospital said
‘I absolutely love their visits! I love how it lightens the mood on the ward (after all, laughter can be catching!) The whole ward just seems even more fun and happy during a visit. This helps the children engage together too, which helps promote the playful environment we strive to achieve.‘
Children admitted to hospital may require regular attendance for surgery, treatment or what can be painful procedures, so for them the hospital experience can be very distressing and frightening.
When explaining the difference visits make Lisa Beaumont (Therapeutic and Specialised Play Manager) said:
‘The Giggle Doctors make such a positive impact to all our sick children; they bring smiles and laughter at what can be a very sad and difficult time. Many of our children spend huge periods of time accessing very specialised care at Leeds Children’s Hospital and are often also a long way from family and friends. The Giggle Doctors really do help make such a difference to so many sick children during their wonderful visits.‘
In just six months the Giggle Doctors brought joy and laughter to 1,166 children, and by the end of December 2024 they will have carried out 100 visits at Leeds Children’s Hospital – their largest ever number in a single year! Their visits also play a significant role in easing the anxiety of parents/carers as they see their child laugh, often for the first time in a long-time. They contribute towards the positive atmosphere on the ward and can help improve the work environment for NHS staff too.
This Giggle Doctor Take-Over Day will celebrate the wonderful 10-year partnership between Theodora Children’s Charity and Leeds Children’s Hospital working together to transform children’s experience in hospital and provide vital opportunities for play for over 7,000 children since 2014 – and aims to break the record number of giggles for children, families and members of staff in hospital in just one day!
‘We’re delighted to be celebrating 10 years of visits at Leeds General Infirmary with our Giggle Doctor Take Over Day this November. It’s such a special opportunity for us to say thank you to the many staff members at the hospital without whom we couldn’t bring our Giggle Doctor magic to the children who need it most. We’re looking forward to delivering extra giggles across the hospital on the day to adults and children alike.‘
Isabel Squires (Programme Coordinator and Impact Measurement Lead at Theodora Children’s Charity)
