Dear Secretary of State,
As supporters of Starlight and its mission to put play at the heart of every child’s healthcare experience, we are writing to ask how the Government will deliver the commitment made in the National Cancer Plan that all Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS trusts adopt the NHS England and Starlight Play Well Toolkit by 2027.
Play is a vital part of child-centred healthcare, yet Starlight’s latest FOI data shows that only 20% of ICBs are currently committed to adopting the toolkit, and no ICB has a dedicated budget for play.
Starlight stands ready to support implementation across the NHS through training, mentoring, and its Starlight Playful Approaches training programme, helping healthcare professionals embed play into everyday care.
We urge the Government to set out a clear plan for implementation and work alongside Starlight to ensure that every child can benefit from play, wherever they receive treatment.
The commitment has been made. Children and families now need to see it delivered.
Yours sincerely,
Supporters of Starlight
1:22,061
There is one health play professional for every 22,061 child hospital admissions in the UK. Guidelines suggest this should be 1:2,230. Please help us get there.
