Play in Healthcare Week is the week commencing 14th October 2024 – The theme is ‘Celebrating Play’.
Play in Healthcare week is an annual celebration of play in all healthcare settings for babies, children and young people. It aims to highlight and showcase the incredible work of Health Play Specialists and play staff. The week was formally known as Play In Hospital week, and the society have changed the name for 2024 to be inclusive and representative of play that takes place in all healthcare settings.
The celebratory week has a different play related theme and play teams throughout the UK take part, planning and providing daily activities throughout the week. Play in Healthcare Week is an initiative created by The National Association of Health Play Specialists and has been supported by Starlight charity for children’s play in healthcare in recent years. We promote the week on social media using the hashtag #PIHW and encourage all teams to share their celebrations on social media platforms.
Hospital and healthcare environments can be scary for babies, children and young people and the importance of play in hospital cannot be overstated. Play has the power to create happiness for children in healthcare settings and is also used to enable them to understand their treatment and procedures in a fun and age-appropriate way. The week really showcases the importance of play for the emotional and mental well-being of babies, children and young people.
Play In Healthcare Week 2024
Would you or your team like to launch Play in Healthcare Week 2024?
We would like to offer the opportunity to all play teams to apply to launch the week! Are you are and your team passionate about sharing the power of play in healthcare?
This years theme is ‘Celebrating Play’! Please let us know how you plan to celebrate PIHW!
The team with the most interesting/exciting plans will be selected as this years launch team!
We encourage lots of communications and social media posting during PIHW. Speak to your comms teams about putting a spotlight on your team during the week!
Please contact Margaret (SoHPS administrator) via email to express your interest in launching the week this year!
How to get involved in PIHW:
- Share photos of what you are getting up to, to celebrate PIHW on social media using the hashtag #PIHW and tagging @starlight_uk and @nahps_official_ and speak to your communications team about letting local media know
- Starlight activity pack will be available to download soon
Click here to view past events
October 2021
Playing through the pandemic – a narrative of positive interventions
This theme aims to celebrate how play teams have been keeping play at the heart of their work during the pandemic.
We are delighted to be working with Oxford University Hospital alongside Starlight to launch this year’s week.
October 2020
Play Well Together
During these uncertain and strange times, play is even more important to children and young people. ‘Play Well Together’ can mean so many things but incorporates the importance of how effective play is for many, both children and adults. Whether to you, ‘Play Well Together’ means working effectively with other members of the MDT for the benefit of the patient and family, or playing to aid recovery at the bed side, or families having the time, space and ability to play well together as a family unit since lockdown, this theme can mean so many things. It allows you, your teams, patients and families to embrace your creative sides and think of all the ways you and others ‘Play Well Together’.
NAHPS are excited to see in what ways your creativity and imagination is used for Play in Hospital Week 2020. Lets remember just how important play is to our patients and families during these strange times and how you all make the difference throughout the year, not just during Play in Hospital Week. Let us celebrate the greatness of PLAY!
‘Play Well Together’
NAHPS are thrilled to share an article written by the Play Team from Ninewells, Dundee.
Showing the importance of ‘Playing Well Together’ especially during these times of COVID. Thank you Play Team from Ninewells.
Please click here to access the full article.
