Hospital Services

NHS manager wins award for championing play in healthcare

A south west NHS team and its manager has been honoured with a national award for their exceptional work to improve children’s healthcare by spreading the benefits of therapeutic play in their region and across the UK.  

Project Manager Tania Sparks, from the Surgery in Children South West Operational Delivery Network (ODN), has been named Joint Protector of Play in the Starlight Health Play Awards 2025.  

Her small team covers nine NHS trusts across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Swindon and Gloucestershire and is tasked with improving children’s surgical services across the south west. It aims to improve quality of care, reduce variation, and deliver best value for the NHS.  

Accidental play advocate

It became an accidental advocate for the benefits of health play when it undertook research into how to decrease the number of children having MRI scans under general anaesthetic – a procedure which is routinely given to under 12s across the NHS, even when medically unnecessary. 

They discovered that not only was the availability of therapeutic play having a significant impact on the number of children who could manage their MRIs awake, but was having amazing results for other treatments and procedures too.  

This motivated them to set up a network for health play professionals in their region which included other ODNs which cover fields such as paediatric critical care, paediatric mental health, congenital heart disease, teenage and young adult cancer, and neonatal care, where they could share best practice. 

The team also includes: ODN Manager Catherine Carpenter-Clawson (pictured above left), Clinical Director Simon Courtman (who is also an anaesthetist at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, as well as the Care Group Director for Women’s and Children’s Services), Lead Nurse Gael Rolls and Support Manager Cat Edwards (pictured above right).

“Our job is about making sure children get the safest, most efficient, and supportive care possible. Patient safety, efficiency, and optimising resources is key - and an MRI awake offers all of that. But more importantly, it avoids the risks that come with anaesthesia.  

 “Our research showed that even four-to-five-year-olds can tolerate the scan awake with support from play teams. That’s a huge step forward.”  The ODN published guidance based on their findings in February last year and are currently tracking its impact in their region. 

Filling a vital gap

The resulting network has been filling a vital gap for play services in hospitals by helping the small health play workforce share best practice and their knowledge with each other and those making clinical decisions. The team has also been sharing their findings at a national level which has led to similar initiatives in other regions, such as its East of England equivalent whose lead nurse nominated Tania’s team for the award!   

“A lot of the play teams are tiny, sometimes just one or two people, and they’re running the entire play service so connecting them seemed vital. We also thought it was important to have a working group that looks at play from all perspectives too." - Tania

The NHS Play Well Toolkit Starlight recently launched with NHS England will provide a significant boost to this work, said Tania adding: “Now that the Toolkit's out, our hope is that we're going to be able to implement the interactive checklist within each trust to review their play services and identify opportunities for development to align with the new standards. This will hopefully drive forward change and be a key resource in influencing the progression and wider recognition of play services nationwide. 

“It’s fantastic to be able to support play from a different angle. It’s vital that play teams are resourced properly and services are. Play is an essential part of patient care. I work from home a lot and I don't go into hospitals within my role, so it feels a little bit surreal to win something for the work that I do compared to those that are working in hospitals and with patients. It amazes me the work health play specialists and their assistants do.” - Tania

“We’re delighted Tania and the Operational Delivery Network which specialises in children’s surgery in the south west is championing the vital role of play in healthcare during surgery as well as in many other treatments and procedures. By taking a lead on this important issue and spreading the word Tania and the team are influencing practice locally and nationally, which will transform children’s healthcare experiences ensuring they are fully supported during some of the most challenging times in their lives.”  Cathy Gilman, Chief Executive of Starlight 

“We’re truly honoured to support the Starlight Health Play Awards once again. Each year, we’re deeply inspired by the creativity, compassion, and dedication shown by those who bring the magic of play to children in hospitals. Their efforts make a lasting impact, and we can’t wait to celebrate this year’s remarkable winners in November.”  Michael Errington - Chief Operating Officer, Ryman