I’m a radiographer, so I take x-rays, ensuring patients are in the positions they need to be. Play is paramount to my job because in many cases without it, we wouldn't be able to get the X-ray images we need. It also improves the patient's experience because sometimes in the past I've not really had any toys available to me, so I can see the difference play and the Starlight boxes make. I've had children become so distressed that we have to take a break and try again later. But that’s less likely to be needed when you have Starlight boxes available to you. Funding is always quite tight in the NHS, so we do rely on the Starlight toys heavily.
There’s this rattle, with sand in it, in the boxes and honestly in like 90% of the times I’ve had a screaming baby, just shaking this rattle makes them stop crying, and they look mesmerised. I don’t know what was in that rattle, or what was going through the minds of these babies, but whatever it is just works and lets me do my job.
We also use the toys in the waiting area because that’s a time when children can really pick up on Mum or Dad’s stress levels and get really upset. They’re also bored. So being able to give them something to focus on, something fun, can really help even before the x-ray begins.