Play specialists aiming to take the worry out of a hospital visit

Children attending Poole Hospital for an appointment or a visit are invited to bring along their teddy bear for a free health check-up next week

On Monday and Tuesday, hospital play specialists will be on hand to ensure their fuzzy friends are in tip top condition as part of activities to mark National Play in Hospital Week, starting on 9 October.

Play specialists are specially trained staff who help children to understand what can be a daunting and worrying experience, using play to take away the worry and fear.

“The play specialist role prepares children for what can be a scary or uncomfortable time – either just coming into hospital or a procedure or test,” explains play specialist Debbie Daniels, pictured on the right.

“We can even distract them while they’re having the procedure, using play as a tool.”

Any child can bring their favourite soft toy to the dome area of the hospital on Monday and Tuesday next week from 9am-4pm to meet members of the play specialist team. The team is particularly keen to meet any children who might be anxious about having to come to hospital as a patient.

Children will each be given a doctor’s bag to keep, which includes bandages, plasters, a face mask, surgical hat, staff ID badge, syringe, ‘medicine’ bottle, health chart and patient wristband.

Youngsters will also be able to try out one of the latest tools available to play specialists – virtual reality goggles. These goggles can transport children to beaches, pirate ships and dinosaur-filled lands as part of the distraction technique.

“We want to try to normalise the hospital experience so it’s less scary, by explaining in a child-friendly way what happens in a hospital, what is going to happen to them, the equipment involved and just talk through the whole journey,” continued Debbie.

“We have children that are crying when they come in and crying when they leave because they don’t want to go home!

“We use soft toys on the children’s unit to demonstrate things like dressings, casts and blood tests, and we’re looking forward to meeting many more teddies and other soft toys, together with their owners, on Monday and Tuesday next week.

“We want to show as many children as possible, particularly those who may be anxious about the idea of having to come into hospital as a patient, that it isn’t as scary as they may think.”

For more information on the play specialist service at University Hospitals Dorset click here.

Pictured: Allysha Pell, trainee play specialist (left) and Debbie Daniels, play specialist, with children's unit staff nurse Kev O'Brien, are keen to meet as many children as possible at the teddy bear clinics.

Tackling our waiting lists: we may need to hear from you

(You may also find the information here on waiting for your procedure or appointment helpful).

To help us to tackle the large waiting lists caused by the Covid-19 pandemic we routinely contact patients waiting for appointments or procedures. Increasingly, this is by text message (SMS), but can also be by letter or phone call.

Over the last two years, many non-emergency operations and procedures across the NHS were cancelled or postponed because of Covid-19. We are working hard to prioritise these patients and will be contacting patients waiting for appointments at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals.

We’re also looking at managing our waiting lists better, to ensure only those patients who need our care remain on them.

We contact patients in a range of ways, including text messages through our outpatient portal provider, Dr Doctor, which may include secure links to letters, and by post.

If you are contacted, please be assured that:

• our communication will only ever ask questions relating to your care
• we will never ask for bank details or reference to money or payment
• for security reasons, we may ask you to confirm your date of birth, and/or postcode.

Please respond promptly if you are asked to, so we can help you with your care or offer your future appointment to someone who needs it.

Electronic communication, eg by text message, is fast and secure, and it saves the NHS money. But we can only contact you if we have your up-to-date contact details and especially your mobile phone number – you can ensure we have yours by talking to the reception team at your next hospital appointment or by calling the number on your appointment letter.

Have you received a message from us saying that we understand you are no longer waiting to see a consultant for a follow-up outpatient appointment?

To help us to ensure we can prioritise those patients who need our care sooner, we’ve recently gone through our waiting lists looking at our outpatient follow-up appointment records and identified patients who no longer appear to need our care.

We’ve written to these patients, asking them to make contact with us using the details provided if they believe they are due to have a follow-up consultant appointment.

If you are under the care of another team or healthcare professional at UHD - this care will be unaffected.

You can find out more about this waiting list validation project in this FAQ here.

Patient initiated follow-up appointments

Some patients are being placed on what’s known as a patient initiated follow-up pathway, or PIFU. This enables patients to let us know if something has changed with their illness or condition, and a follow-up appointment can then be arranged.

If we have contacted you and you have a question or query about this, please contact us using the details below, preferably by email if possible:

• Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  Tel: 0300 019 2204.

If you are concerned about any aspect of your care you can call or email our PALS team, or have a general comment or concern:

• PALS tel: 0300 019 8499
• PALS email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Join us for our Annual Members’ Meeting

Our next Annual Members’ Meeting (AMM) will be held at Bournemouth University, on Tuesday 17 October 2023 at 9.30am. 

The event, which will also be live streamed via Microsoft Teams, will include presentations from chief executive, Siobhan Harrington, and chief finance officer, Pete Papworth, on the 2022/23 Annual Report and Accounts, and 2023/24 Forward Plan. Sharon Collett, lead governor, will also give a presentation on the Council of Governors and their work during 2022/23.

The meeting will be held in Room K101, Kimmeridge House, Talbot campus, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB.  Information stands will be available from 9.00am and light refreshments will also be provided. There will be free parking.

Booking is required to reserve your parking space. Any information regarding food allergies should be given when booking your place. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0300 019 8723 with names and contact details of who would like to attend.

If you would like to submit a question at the AMM, please also send this to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0300 019 8723 by Friday 13 October. Questions submitted in advance will be prioritised at the meeting.

We encourage you to stay for the understanding health talk on Oral and Maxillofacial/Head and Neck Surgery presented by Mr. Parkash Ramchandani, which will immediately follow the AMM.

To view the minutes of the Annual Members’ Meeting 2022 please click here

Stars shine at first ever UHD Awards

Our first ever UHD Awards event took place in mid-June, featuring some incredible and uplifting examples of inspirational care, compassion and leadership.

Almost 300 staff, including almost 100 staff ticket ballot winners chosen at random, plus patients and relatives who put forward staff for recognition, attended the event at The Pavilion, in central Bournemouth, to hear how our finalists were placed in each of 12 categories.

The awards scheme received an amazing 850 nominations, including 200 from the public, giving our judging panel a real challenge.

Siobhan Harrington, chief executive, said it was a fantastic opportunity to recognise incredible teams and individuals across the trust.

"It's great to be able to come together and celebrate all that is great about UHD," she told attendees.”

Sister Annie Bush was named the winner of the Chair's Award. She said: "I've got the most incredible team, and I'm so humbled to win an award. It's very special for not just me to be recognised but the rest of the Trust too - we work with some incredible people."

Caring Award

Winner: Amy Owen

“Amy is an outstanding individual who consistently demonstrates kindness, compassion and empathy towards the vulnerable families whom we care for as a team. Amy is our rock - I am not sure we would function without her.”

Highly commended

Eric Pateman

Jane Weedon

One Team Award

Winner: Infection prevention and control team

“The IPC team have been the rock and constant throughout the global pandemic, using their skills, knowledge and compassion to support patients, colleagues and the organisation keep everyone safe times of uncertainty.”

Highly commended

Pharmacy Team

Stroke Team

Listening to Understand Award

Winner: Gemma Brittan

“No matter what is going on in our large directorate, and despite her workload, Gemma will always make time to listen to any staff member,  in or out of the directorate. She is a true role model who always goes out of her way to help and understand others in such a kind and compassionate way.”

Highly commended

Gemma Turnbull

Mini Thomas

Open and Honest Award

Winner: Catherine Bishop

“Catherine is a Freedom To Speak Up ambassador, as well as a staff governor, who works tirelessly to support our staff and is driven to ensure everyone has a voice. She is not afraid to speak truth to power and call it out when it is not ok, and is relentless until action comes from the concern.” 

Highly commended

Kerry Taylor

Kathy Hearn

Always Improving Award

Winner: Christchurch Day Hospital

“‘Always improving’ perfectly describes the day hospital team. In 2022 they re-validated their Practise Development accreditation with Bournemouth University, using the strengths gained from working differently in the pandemic.”

Highly commended

Cheryl Richardson, Gaynor Richards and Nikkie Scrivener

Samuel Osarumwense

Inclusive Award

Winner: Funke Adewoye

“Funke is an exceptional and inspirational staff nurse and leader. Through her own personal experience and enthusiasm to make a difference to patients and staff at UHD, Funke has reached out with confidence to senior leaders to support and empower her to make a difference.”

Highly commended

Meris Millar

Judith Dube

UHD Leadership Award

Winner: Suzy Bingham

“Suzy always has just the right approach - her door is always open to listen to you, she will always make time for you in her ever-busy daily schedule. I can honestly say that Suzy makes me feel so appreciated as a team player in pharmacy. She is a fantastic leader and a credit to UHD.”

Highly commended

Zhan Hong Sun

Rob Flux

Volunteer of the Year Award

Winner: Gill Brewster

“Gill makes patient feel welcome and at ease whilst they wait for their appointment, and is always on hand with a much welcome cup of tea. Gill takes this caring side even further and is able to seek out those patients on their own or with anxiety about their appointments and will sit with them offering that reassurance when needed.”

Highly commended

Mary Temple Lance

Jackie Ree

Team of the Year Award

Winner: UHD Portering Team

“This team is caring, always taking the time to help anyone looking lost around the hospital and checking if people are ok if they look distressed. They strive to always improve the service they offer to better benefit not only the hospital but patients as well.”

Highly commended

Maxillofacial Prosthetics Team

Child Health team

Clinician of the Year Award, supported by Locum’s Nest

Winner: Elizabeth Hurdidge

“She has been instrumental in the advanced care practitioner course and made it accessible to all staff that would like to progress their careers. Her knowledge and ability know no bounds. She is the most caring nurse I have had the pleasure to work with.”

Highly commended

Emma Jenkins

Emily Seddon

Chair’s Award

Winner: Annie Bush

“The nurturing atmosphere on Annie’s ward, and the positivity of the staff there, is obvious and in no small part down to Annie. Patients speak incredibly highly of her, and say she is a big part in their recovery. Her wisdom, experience, kindness and compassion can’t help but rub off on other staff on the ward, regardless of their professional discipline.”

Patient Choice Award

Winner: Dr Jason Mainwaring and Clare Scott

“Jason and his wonderful clinical nurse specialist Clare have been my advocates both physically and emotionally, always there to fight my corner. They never gave up on me. I owe so much to their continuing support as I grow into the woman I am today, and I am forever grateful for their exceptional care.”

Highly commended

Gillian Connell

Lorraine Knott