Nottingham Children’s Hospital is based on the Queen’s Medical Centre campus and provides care for children and young people across the region and beyond for a full range of conditions from surgery and cancer to emergencies and broken bones. Additionally a small number of services, including burns, are currently provided at the Nottingham City Hospital, to the north of the city.

The hospital, which was recently granted independent status, aims to put children first every time. They want to make sure every child is as comfortable as possible during their stay in hospital and that parents, carers or relatives are given all of the information they need. They understand it is a difficult and often emotional time when a child is in hospital and therefore want to do all they can to put them at ease and make the experience of being in hospital a pleasant one.

With this philosophy it is no surprise that they were most receptive when approached about TLC. Paediatric Outreach Coordinator for Children’s Intensive Care, Nicky Taylor, volunteered to manage the introduction of the charity across the hospital and was most enthusiastic when I met with her. Since the meeting a few months ago the bears have become a great hit with medical staff and patients.

Graham Riche