Child friendly PPE inspires giggles at Newham Hospital
The play team at Newham Hospital have made cartoon and disney-themed PPE wear so staff can appear less intimidating to the children they’re looking after.
Hamera Elahi, Play Specialist at Newham Hospital, made the decorative shield tops so that staff could wear PPE without appearing frightening to children who may already be anxious about being in hospital.
Hamera designed the child-friendly PPE by adding drawings of cartoon, disney and other children’s book characters on to face shields, transforming staff members into superheroes, princes and princesses and other famous individuals.
The drawings are made up and laminated so can wiped clean for infection control purposes and fixed on to the face shields. The child friendly PPE is donned by staff in Rainbow Ward and brings joy to both the children and the adults wearing the kit.
Munira, staff nurse at Newham Hospital, said:
“The play specialist made the disney and decorative tops of the PPE glasses. Seeing these have lifted spirits of all the staff and the children have enjoyed them too, guessing the names of the different characters.”
Hamera said:
“It’s been so lovely to see how such a simple addition is making so many people giggle even during the covid-19 pandemic. Both staff and patients are enjoing the child friendly PPE and there have even been a few requests from people of specific characters they’d like drawn up!”