Heartbeat: The fracture clinic gets plastered for a good cause!

June 16, 2020

Orthopaedic Practitioners, Stephanie Craig and Steven Hackett-Cann have recently led a project at City fracture clinic to create a children’s corner in the plaster room. As anyone who’s ever broken a bone or had a fracture will know the thought of getting yourself put back together is a daunting prospect.

The colourful play area was created to make children’s experiences within the clinic more welcoming. Equipped with everything from a portable DVD player to watch films on, to books, bubbles and colouring in posters, the area has been designed to ensure our young patients are entertained. It also means that children are distracted from thinking about the procedures they are about to undergo.

Pleased with how the transformation has gone, Stephanie said: “We felt collectively as a team that we could make our area more inviting for children. Steven and I have taken the lead on this project, but it has been a team effort. We couldn’t have made this happen without the support of our colleagues. We have enjoyed working on a project that we know makes a real difference to the children we look after.”

Steven added: “It’s a pleasure to see our young patients enjoying the area. It’s turned out just as planned and, we couldn’t be happier with the results. It brings a smile to your face knowing that you’ve done something that makes a hospital visit that bit more pleasurable.”

Denise Gnosill, Sister in the fracture clinic, told Heartbeat: “Stephanie and Steven have worked incredibly hard to create an area that children find friendly and where they can relax. These changes mean that they have something to divert their attention. It also makes the experience of visiting the hospital less scary and overwhelming.”

The transformation of the children’s corner has been so successful that Sandwell Hospital is in the process of creating their very own child-friendly area.