University of Galway’s Sláinte Society held the annual Teddy Bear Hospital on 22 and 23 January in the Bailey Allen Hall, an initiative aimed at helping reduce the anxiety of children while they are in the care of doctors.
Aoibhe Treacy, a co-auditor of Sláinte Society, explains how the presence of teddy bears makes being in healthcare feel like a less foreign situation.
“The aim of the teddy bear hospital is to make kids feel more comfortable in healthcare settings,” Treacy says. “These could be things such as going to the GP, getting an X- ray done, or even getting surgery.”
The event was attented by 1,500 students from 21 Galway-based schools.
In addition, 150 students from University of Galway volunteered in total for the both days the event took place.
The process sees children go through each stage of the healthcare system which is replicated for their teddy bears.
They start off with triage and vitals to get a consultation sheet to tell them what’s wrong.
They then go through X-ray and to surgery, where the teddy bears get bandages and colourful plasters.
After, they are referred to the pharmacy in which ‘doctors’ (students who are volunteering) prescribe their teddy bears with hugs, rest and healthy eating.
In order to shake the nerves off, children then go to the bouncy castle room, or a sensory room in case they are feeling overwhelmed.
“Every year we get loads of good feedback from teachers,” Treacy adds.
“We try to add new things according to the responses we recieve.”
This year, an additional section of ‘Referral to Special Friends’ was introduced.
It covers the physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and dietitian aspects.
“We really want to thank the volunteers who do this from the kindness of their hearts,” expresses Jessica Teske, a co-auditor of Sláinte Society.
“We are really grateful for our sponsors and the community that comes together for this. They make today possible.”
