A magical day of play

Families at Evelina London were treated to an amazing day of fun and surprises to celebrate International Day of Play.

With support from the charity Rays of Sunshine, we welcomed some very special guests. Children and young people met a range of VIPs, from Disney princesses to a character from KPop Demon Hunters and Superwoman. The children's entertainer, Captain Calamity, dazzled and delighted with magic tricks and balloon animals. The fun didn't stop there, with the chance for children to express their creativity with arts and crafts sessions and try their luck in the charity's lucky dip.

Sofia, 15, was one of the patients whose day was brightened. She said:

Even though I’m older than a lot of the children here, this has really made me smile! Being in hospital can be quite boring, so visits like this make all the difference.

Our hospital's play team are specially trained in providing play for sick children and young people. They support our patients' recovery and development through fun and familiar activities, including planning unique events like these.

Janet Powell, Evelina London's Director of Nursing, said: "Thank you to everyone who helped make today so special. It was wonderful to see so many children’s smiling faces enjoying the wide range of activities.

Play is such a vital part of the care we provide, offering a welcome distraction and making hospital feel a bit more like home, with our dedicated hospital play specialists being at the heart of this.