TWO Southampton NHS workers have been recognised for their work with seriously ill children across the city.
Claire Pickett and Louise Oliver have been celebrated at this year's Starlight’s Health Play Awards for their work at University Hospital Southampton.
It comes as part of their invaluable work supporting and caring for some of Southampton's most sick children.
Claire, a health play specialist at Southampton Children’s Hospital, has been recognised as the country’s Health Play Specialist of the Year 2022.
Claire's role involves providing fun and play to children who a seriously ill in the oncology ward.
One of the children Claire cared for was Sophie Fairall, from Stubbington, who sadly died after a cancer battle at just 10.
Sophie's mum, Charlotte, said: "Claire was just amazing. Without her, we might not have got Sophie to have chemo.
"Sophie really didn’t want to start treatment, she didn’t want to lose her hair and when she did it was so hard for her.”
Claire has been in this role for 12 years, having completed her nursery nurse course at college when she was 18.
Claire ensures children do not get bored while in hospital, and the team provides a safe space for youngsters to share their fears and anxieties.
"I feel really honoured and privileged that the work I’ve done is appreciated," Claire said.
"The families always tell you how much we are valued, but to know that they took the time to fill out the nomination form is quite overwhelming.
"I can’t make the children on the cancer ward better, but I can make their time in hospital better."
Louise, play leader at Southampton Children’s Hospital, has been awarded the runner-up of the Protector of Play category.
She provides therapeutic, developmental, sensory, and rehab play with children and young people in hospital.
She aims to create a time and space for fun while they stay on the wards.
Louise first discovered the importance of play in hospital after her four-year-old son was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
She said: "Our world completely turned upside down, and we found ourselves living on the children’s neuro and Piam Brown Oncology wards for a year.
"As a family, we used play to not only explain procedures, MRI scans, radiotherapy and changes in appearance to him, but also to create happy fun times together, which helped him overcome his huge fear of being in hospital."
One child Louise has cared for is six-year-old Emily Holland, who was suffering with severe hallucinations and voices due to her medication.
The schoolgirl was admitted with ADEM Encephalitis and spent 17 days in PICU before being moved to C2 Neuro ward for rehab.
Emily's mum, Victoria, said her daughter's experience was "traumatic".
"With Emily's hallucinations and voices and other hospital staff and mummy and daddy constantly saying “no you can’t do that yet” it started to grate on Emily," she said.
"So when Louise came to play it was a couple of hours of let’s do whatever Emily wants to do, if she wanted messy play, Louise would organise the biggest messy play you could imagine."
Speaking about her award, Louise said: “I’m touched beyond words to receive this award and blown away to have even been considered.
"Hand on heart, I can truly say I love my job as a play leader and feel extremely privileged to have met so many incredible children and families, whilst in this role, and been a very small part of their hospital journey."
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