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It’s time for the government to recognise the importance of play in healthcare

MPs are recognising the vital importance of play in children’s healthcare – it’s time for the government to do the same 

Children can’t write policy. They can’t debate in Parliament. Independently, they can’t lobby ministers or civil servants about the things that are most important to them, even in areas that can have a huge impact on their lives. This is why Starlight has been working with MPs to speak up for children in healthcare, and why today (January 6), Calvin Bailey MBE MP, supported by Starlight, will lead a debate in the Houses of Parliament on Therapeutic Play in Children’s Healthcare. 

Speaking up for children on how healthcare is delivered

This could not be more timely. The landscape surrounding our mission – to safeguard all children from healthcare-related trauma through play – is fast-changing. Many believe the new 10-Year Health Plan must give an increasing priority to children. The government seems to agree. In the BBC’s first political interview of the new year, health secretary Wes Streeting, said “children’s health and healthcare has not been given the priority it deserves … this government is bringing a really strong focus on children’s health.”  

Starlight has shared data from our recent Causes of Trauma report with ministers, which suggests a vitally important part of this new focus must be how the healthcare system can better protect children from the distress of medical treatment. The Play Well Toolkit, which Starlight co-produced with NHS England, was a big step forward, but documents alone will not be enough. We are calling for a government-led programme to put this toolkit to work across the NHS. (Image: Members of Starlight's Youth Panel at a Westminster Roundtable hosted by Alistair Strathern MP)

Children in hospital are being left out of public investment in play

Rachel Reeves recent budget statement pledged £18 million for children’s playgrounds, but while support for play from public policy is always welcome, children in healthcare are too often forgotten. Seriously ill children can spend months in hospital, where opportunities for play are limited or entirely absent. Yet these are the children who are very often at risk of trauma, and therefore some of those who need it most. (Image: 13-year-old Sfiyah Khan speaking to MPs at Starlight's Westminster Drop-In event)

Health play professionals are scarce — despite proven impact

Children in healthcare rely on the incredible work of health play professionals. Independent research by the University of Cambridge has highlighted the benefits. If play can bring about such a positive change to children’s experiences, why are health play staff not more commonplace? Our mapping of play in the NHS in 2023 found fewer than 1,200 health play staff employed across England and that most NHS trusts had no budget for play resources. 

Of course, there are shortages of nurses and doctors too, but with growing evidence of the positive impact of play on efficiencies, the NHS should not see this as an either-or option. Research strongly indicates that calmer children mean shorter appointments, fewer cancellations, and a reduced need for anaesthetics. This helps to ease pressure on waiting lists and saves the NHS time and money.  

Children deserve safety, dignity and play when they are most vulnerable

One of the three ‘big shifts’ of the 10-Year Health Plan is from treatment to prevention. Safeguarding children from psychological trauma in healthcare is surely a quick-win here, consistent with the first principle of medicine, enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath: ‘do no harm’. 

Another of the government’s big shifts is ‘from hospital to community’. Health visitors are identified as having an important role. But to make the envisioned neighbourhood health service as child-friendly as possible there must be a role for community health play specialists who do incredible work with families, but are vanishingly small in number. (Image: a health play specialist at Northwick Park Hospital with a young patient)

The workforce plan must invest in health play services

Wes Streeting told the BBC that a new healthcare workforce plan will be published in the Spring. If he is true to his word, this must see more investment in the children’s health workforce, including a programme for health play services. 

Children deserve to feel safe when they are unwell. It is time for the government to build a healthcare system that recognises the risk of trauma in healthcare - it is time to support children’s need to play when it matters most.  (Image: members of the Health Play Team at Croydon Hospital chat to other healthcare staff)