This Christmas, SASH Charity, the official charity for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH), is embarking on a mission to bring joy to children receiving care at East Surrey Hospital with a brand-new toy appeal.
SASH Charity has partnered with East Surrey Hospital's health play specialists to support fundraising for new toys that will bring joy to the children in our ward. The appeal invites donors to contribute to the fundraising efforts with the aim to improve the hospital experience for children during the festive season and beyond.
Donations received through the toy appeal can significantly improve the wellbeing of the youngest patients, allowing them to explore how playtime can positively affect their wellbeing and creating positive experiences during their hospital stay.
The hospital's team of Specialised Children's Nurses, Doctors, and Play Specialists work tirelessly to cater to the diverse needs of newborns, toddlers, older children, and teenagers, whether they are facing emergencies, undergoing planned operations, or dealing with long-term conditions requiring continuous or regular hospital care.
SASH Charity's Children’s Appeal supports the hospital in providing the very best care for children, by enhancing the facilities in which they are looked after, creating new or improved spaces for children and their families, as well as supporting those fun but vital things which help a hospital stay feel more enjoyable.
Janine Standing, Registered Health Play Specialist at East Surrey Hospital, said: "What I like most about my role is making a difference to a child or young person's experience of the hospital environment."
Geraldine Rapu, Health Play Apprentice at East Surrey Hospital, said: "I like to help eliminate anxieties children may feel, sometimes of apprehension - triggered by children thinking of their procedures which could be painful, and helping them through their care by bringing them toys to take their mind away from the clinical setting. The look of happiness on their faces is priceless."
If you’d like to contribute to SASH Charity’s Christmas toy appeal, you can make a donation by visiting the following link: https://sashcharity.enthuse.com/pf/childrenswards.