The Royal Marsden has launched a campaign to help raise awareness for a specialist service the hospital provides for children.

‘Play specialists’ at the Sutton hospital are a team of nurses on the children’s cancer unit who help youngsters through treatments that frightens them.

The medics help sick children cope with their fears when facing needles, bleeping machines, face masks and daunting operations.

They also build a relationship with the child, encourage them to communicate their worries, and in turn put strategies in place to help them cope.

Its campaign, Play Specialists Appeal, was launched this week ahead of the nationwide initiative National Play in Hospital Week, and the five-year anniversary of the hospital’s children’s unit.

Ten-year-old Maisy Delahoy was diagnosed with Metastatic Hypothalamic Glioma, a type of brain tumour, as a one-year-old.

Her mum Sarah, who lives in Worcester Park with husband Clive, 55, their son Harvey, 14, and Maisy, explained how the hospital’s play specialists were a “god-send” throughout her daughter’s years-long treatment.

She said: “Right from the very beginning the play specialists have been involved, and they’ve been an absolute godsend.

“As Maisy got a bit older, they started to explain the treatment she was going through and she started to understand it.

“They would show her what was going on using teddy bears.

“She actually really looked forward to going, just to see the specialists, and it made her treatment not as daunting as it would have been.”

Maisy underwent repeated bouts of chemotherapy and radiotherapy from the age of one until four years ago, when her brain tumour was deemed to be under control.

The 10-year-old said her play specialist Claire Riddell helped her through the “daunting” treatment she received.

She added: “When the doctors told me that I had to have radiotherapy I was very scared.

“I didn't know what it was, but Claire explained it all to me, and showed me that there was nothing to be scared of.

“The first time they put a mask on my face, I really didn't like it. I made them stop.

“But then Claire and I made a mask for my teddy, and it got much easier.

“I took [the teddy] Mills everywhere with me, even during my treatment. I really like Claire, she's lovely. I send her a Christmas card every year.”

A spokeswoman for the Royal Marsden said: “Our play specialists provide a vital service that enables the Oak Centre for Children and Young People to go above and beyond for our young patients.

“The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity funds the play specialist role and we urge the local community to support this campaign.”

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