Mental Health United Kingdom Project #6497

Giggle Doctor visits for children in hospital

by The Theodora Children's Charity

Giggle Doctor visits for children in hospital

Project Report | Oct 11, 2016
July - September 2016

By Jessica Mann | Fundraising and Communications Coordinator

Giggle Doctors provide laughter and joy and improve the well-being of sick and disabled children during difficult times. We visit 20 hospitals, 3 hospices and 2 specialist care centres accross the country, visiting over 30,000 children a year. That is a huge amount of giggles, thanks to the generosity of our supporters!

Ellie's daughter Sarah has spent a significant amount of time in hospital. Ellie shares how the Giggle Doctor visits have had a positive impact and improved Sarah's experience of hospital...

Why did Sarah first visit the hospital?

Sarah was admitted to Leeds General Infirmary in early August with a very serious skin complaint and dehydration. Sarah is a very poorly little girl and has spent a considerable amount of her life in and out of hospital.

How did she feel?

Sarah was in a considerable amount of pain and discomfort and had to be given a large amount of pain killers to keep her comfortable. Sarah was very sad and very upset.

When did Sarah first meet the Giggle Doctors?

Sarah first met the Giggle Doctors three weeks into her latest stay in hospital. After being sad and quiet for so long, and very suspicious of doctors, the Giggle Doctors really cheered her up and made her laugh out loud for the first time in a while. They played ‘silly’ with her and made her feel at ease, comfortable and happy in their company. She realised that the ‘silly doctors’ were there to dish out laughter and fun rather than medicine and injections!

How did the Giggle Doctors make a difference to Sarah's experience of hospital?

They made Sarah realise that it’s not all loneliness and sadness in hospital, it can also be fun and entertaining.

What does Sarah like most about the Giggle Doctor visits?

Sarah definitely loves playing ‘silly’! She just loved the Giggle Doctors being daft, pretending to drop and lose things, making funny noises and pulling faces.

What do you think about the Giggle Doctors?

I think the Giggle Doctors are invaluable. They are perfect at acting out at the child’s level. You can see that they really enjoy making the children laugh and bringing happiness to them.

Thank you so much for supporting the Theodora Children's Charity and for bringing laughter to children who need it most.

One day we hope to be able to bring magical Giggle Doctor moments to all children who need them, and with your help we’re inching ever closer to that dream.

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Jul 14, 2016
May - June 2016

By Jessica Mann | Fundraising and Communications Coordinator

Giggle Doctors provide laughter and joy to sick and disabled children during difficult times. We visit hospitals, hospices and specialist care centres and often our magical Giggle Doctor moments have a lasting impact for the children visited.

Michaela's heart-warming story is a wonderful example of how a Giggle Doctor visit can make a huge difference. She first encountered the Giggle Doctors as a patient 10 years ago. It had such a positive impact during her hospital stay, that she was later inspired to train and become a hospital Play Leader...

When did you first meet the Giggle Doctors as a child?

I first met the Giggle Doctors when I was 14, almost 15 (that was back in 2005, I’m 26 now)

How did the Giggle Doctors make a difference to your experience of hospital?

They put a smile back on my face. They made the whole experience so much better. Looking back at it now, I don’t remember any of the things that happened to me whilst in hospital or to do with the surgery, but I remember Dr GeeHee coming to cheer me up.

Did the Giggle Doctors influence your choice of career?

A few years after my surgery, when I turned 18, I started working as a Health Care Assistant in A&E Southampton Hospital. I used to love watching what the Giggle Doctors did with the children and how happy they made everyone. A few years later I got a job as a Play Leader and I remember thinking I’m one step closer to being an honorary Giggle Doctor. I even have my own Giggle Doctor name, Dr Bubbles!

Why do you think the work of the Giggle Doctors is so important?

Some of the children on the oncology unit I work on as a Play Leader can be in for ages, so having the Giggle Doctors come in is something to look forward to. The work they do is priceless. They will work with children through procedures, hard times and just be generally entertaining and amazing.

What's your favourite memory of the Giggle Doctors?

This is such a hard question for me to answer, as every time I see them it makes me smile. It is my favourite day of the week.

Thank you so much for supporting the Theodora Children's Charity and for bringing laughter to children who need it most.

One day we hope to be able to bring magical Giggle Doctor moments to all children who need them, and with your help we’re inching ever closer to that dream.

Links:

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Apr 20, 2016
March - April 2016

By Jennifer Payne | Fundraising and Communications Manager

Dr Dotty and Maisie having a giggle

Theodora Giggle Doctors visit children in 20 hospitals across England, including Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Every Thursday two of our specially trained performers visit this hospital, brightening the days of the children and their parents there.

Charlotte got in touch to tell us about the difference the Giggle Doctor visits make to her daughter Maisie...

"Maisie has been admitted to hospital 10 times in the last 15 months (most of which have been for 2 week periods at a time). When she was first admitted she was a little frightened as she didn't know what to expect. The Giggle Doctors really helped to make her relax and forget her surroundings. They are all fantastic.

Maisie absolutely loves the Giggle Doctors. Dr Fab is her favourite and we see her quite frequently at Addenbrooke's Hospital. Maisie's clinic days are on Thursdays, the same day as the Giggle Doctor visits, so every week she looks forward to seeing them. Thursdays are now her favourite days!

All of the Giggle Doctors we have come across have been absolutely FANTASTIC, they change the atmosphere and for the time they are present Maisie has such a fun and memorable time, she really has a 'giggle' and as a parent it is great to see. It makes me smile to see her smiling and laughing with them. They dance around and sing with her, it’s magical to see, she just LOVES them.

Maisie often talks about the Giggle Doctor visits outside of the hospital. They make a big difference to how she views her hospital visits, making the experience more positive.

The Giggle Doctors really are brilliant and live up to their name. For her birthday Maisie even asked for a ukulele so that she could be just like Dr Fab!"

Thank you for helping to fund these magical visits. Every £10 ($15) helps us to bring a smile to another child, like Maisie, going through a challenging time.

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