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Members of the paediatric team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust will take on a 12-mile walk across the Malvern Hills on July 14 to raise funds for bereavement care throughout children’s services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Taking on the challenge are staff members from the Hospitals Play and Paediatric Team. The Play Team are healthcare specialists who are trained in therapeutic play techniques and support children and young people in hospital. They do this by working with children and their loved ones to reduce anxiety, increase understanding, and help make the experience of being in hospital that bit more comfortable.

In addition, the Play Team are there for parents, guardians and loved ones when their children pass away and provides both emotional and tangible support during this difficult time. The Team work with families to provide the support that they need and when wanted offer ever lasting memory-making such as hand and foot casts and prints, gathering locks of hair or taking prints for jewellery-making kits.

These precious memories help families maintain a bond with their child in a meaningful and comforting manner. Tangible remembrances like a lock of hair or a handprint offer evidence of the child’s life and provide solace during the grieving process. High-quality bereavement care can offer a small measure of comfort during the most challenging times in a family’s life.

Jennie, Nurse at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said “Losing a child is unimaginable, and we do our best as a department to comfort families during this time. The incredible mementos the play team creates offer families a physical memory of their child. Our mementos are funded by The Paediatric Ward and the Play Team themselves, and by supporting our fundraising walk, we can continue to offer this service to many more families.”

The Charity works with the team to provide resources and items to support patients and their loved ones throughout their care in Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

To show your support for the Paediatrics Team walk please donate online via Just Giving here: https://bit.ly/3RZcJ6M

For information on how to support the Play Team further please contact Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity on info@wahcharity and 01905 768954.