Charity donates children’s fun centre to Infirmary

Healthcare assistant Julie Platt watches brothers Gabriel and Oliver busy playing on the fun centre.

A new bright yellow robot - which is in fact a children’s fun centre - has been donated to Rochdale Infirmary’s children’s outpatient department by national charity, Starlight.

The children’s charity aims to provide entertainment for children while they are in hospital.

The ‘robot’ contains the latest HD television, Blu-ray disc player, Nintendo Wii, Wii fit and four portable DSi consoles. The robot is a compact way of providing amusement, entertainment and distraction on tap for children. It helps to banish boredom fears about their visit to hospital, giving them the freedom to play what they want and when they want.

Louise Gallagher, play specialist at the Rochdale Infirmary, described the fun centre as ‘fabulous entertainment’ and also said: “If the child is playing happily then this lessens the effects of being at a hospital.

“If they feel less anxious and worried about their illness and treatment, then quite often they need less pain medication. The interactive games, especially Wii fit encourage children to move around which aids their healing and recovery”

As Rochdale Infirmary no longer has a children’s inpatient ward following moves in June 2011, most children needing to stay in hospital will be admitted to the children’s wards at The Royal Oldham Hospital in Crumpsall, or Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, or another specialist hospital if needed.

Children’s outpatient clinics at Rochdale Infirmary and community services continue as normal. More children and young people will receive care at home when it is safe to do so.

The other children’s units and children’s outpatient departments at the other hospitals run by the Trust will also be receiving fun centres from Starlight over the next few months.