Starlight is proud to announce that our Head of Insight & Impact has had an article published in the esteemed publication International Journal of Play.
Dr Sandy Gulyurtlu’s peer reviewed article highlights the benefits of play for children in hospital and for children who are seriously ill or have chronic conditions.
Sandy is delighted that experts in the field of play have given her article the thumbs up, she said:
“Last week the publication of the NHS 10-Year Plan highlighted a commitment to improving children's health, investing in early intervention and prevention, whilst bringing healthcare more into the community.
“I hope this article can provide further evidence to show that health play needs are integral to the funding and delivery of this plan. Not only does it show how health play matters to children in healthcare, it demonstrates the impact that we see firsthand through Starlight's work in supporting and enabling health play in hundreds of healthcare settings across the UK.
“It brings together the wider body of evidence that shows that health play can minimise trauma in healthcare, overcome procedural anxiety, improve compliance with treatment and support with recovery.
“This in turn has proven to lead to efficiencies for the NHS and, more importantly, better health outcomes for children. There is no better time to invest in play in healthcare than the present.”
* The International Journal of Play is an inter-disciplinary publication focusing on all facets of play. It aims to provide an international forum for mono- and multi-disciplinary papers and scholarly debate on all aspects of play theory, policy and practice from across the globe and across the lifespan, and in all kinds of cultural settings, institutions and communities. The journal is read by anthropologists, educationalists, folklorists, historians, linguists, philosophers, playworkers, psychologists, sociologists, therapists and zoologists.