Starlight is proud to champion the power of play in healthcare, helping children face hospital treatment with courage, comfort, and confidence. This month, our mission received powerful support in Parliament from Alistair Strathern MP, who is calling for greater health play provision across the NHS.
Policy
MP calls for greater NHS health play provision to transform children's hospital care
Championing Therapeutic Play in Hospitals
Alistair Strathern, MP for Hitchin and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, is a valued supporter of therapeutic play as a vital tool in improving children’s hospital experiences and outcomes.
In July, Mr. Strathern hosted Starlight’s parliamentary roundtable, which brought together MPs, healthcare professionals, and health play specialists to discuss how play reduces fear and improves wellbeing for children in hospital.
Following the event, he visited Lister Hospital in Stevenage, near his constituency, to see health play in action and meet the hospital’s dedicated health play team.
Lister Hospital's 'Safe Space' for children
During the visit, Mr. Strathern explored Lister Hospital’s innovative ‘safe space’ in A&E, which provides a calming environment for children and young people at risk of mental health crisis.
This approach reflects the government’s 10-year health plan, which identifies supporting children’s mental wellbeing as a key NHS priority. By creating spaces for therapeutic play and emotional support, hospitals like Lister are showing how to reduce trauma and improve recovery for young patients.
Speaking after the visit, Mr. Strathern said he found the play team’s work “inspiring”, adding that therapeutic play can transform young people’s hospital experience and health outcomes.
“No child should have to experience trauma as part of their healthcare. The team at Lister show how to minimise this risk, using the simple power of play. With Alistair’s leadership, we are growing the number of MPs calling on the government and the NHS to extend these important services to all children.”
Building on this momentum, Starlight and Alistair Strathern MP will host another Parliamentary event this autumn, calling for wider NHS health play provision to ensure every child can benefit from therapeutic play in hospital.
Starlight remains committed to working with NHS hospitals, policymakers, and supporters to ensure that every child has the chance to play, heal, and thrive in healthcare settings.