A TEAM of therapy dogs and their owners at Southampton’s teaching hospitals have helped developed the first national protocol for the use of animals in healthcare.

The Royal College of Nursing has launched a set of guidelines to help introduce animals into the care environment.

Therapy dogs at Southampton Children’s Hospital will help to inform the future use of Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) across the NHS.

AAI has been provided by volunteers from charity, Pets as Therapy, which purpose is to provide therapeutic visits to hospitals by dogs.

The project is being led by Lyndsey Uglow and Karen Ramsay with their therapy dogs Leo, Jessie, Totty, Hattie and Archie at the children’s hospital in Southampton.

Lyndsey said: “I have visited all types of patients – from elderly care to the children’s hospital – for six years now, and it always gives me great satisfaction to see the joy it brings to them. It has been an absolutely privilege to be part of the committee at the Royal College of Nursing on this very important milestone in the use of AAI in healthcare environments and I hope the work we have carried out in Southampton lays the foundation for similar projects nationwide.”

It is hoped the protocol – which covers basics including health check-ups and inoculations and infection prevention – will allow healthcare providers to consider safely incorporating AAI into their organisations.

Amanda Cheesley, Royal College of Nursing professional lead for long-term conditions and end-of-life care, said: “Anyone who’s worked in this area can see the amazing impact animals have on the health of adults and children alike, however, there are so many myths around the dangers of having animals in healthcare settings that most organisations are too concerned to try it out.”

Kate Pye, head of nursing at Southampton Children’s Hospital, said: “We know from the constant feedback we receive from patients, families, staff and members of the public just what a positive impact therapy dogs have in hospitals. We are also delighted to be working alongside Lyndsey and other therapy dog handlers in Southampton.”