A SOUTHAMPTON children's cancer ward has benefitted from a £6,000 investment.
Piam Brown children’s cancer ward at Southampton Children’s Hospital has recently received sensory machine to enhance play for children.
The portable machine provides a kaleidoscope of colour, sound and touch – enabling a stimulating sensory experience for the children and parents using it.
One of the first patients to use the machine was 18-month-old Brooke Jordan.
Brooke was recently diagnosed with Wilms Tumour, a type of kidney cancer that commonly affects young children.
Mum Nicole said: “On one of our days on the ward Brooke was nil-by-mouth and she became very distressed, she was just too young to understand why she couldn’t eat.
"The play team put the machine in her room and almost instantly she calmed down, it was a great distraction for not only Brooke, but for us too.
“Brooke loved pressing the buttons to make it change colour and playing with the fibre optics. It’s a great addition to the ward and I’m sure it will help many families like ours.”
The machine was made possible thanks to funding from Southampton Hospitals Charity.
Vicky Torpeythomas, play leader on the Piam Brown ward, said “We’re so thankful to receive this machine on our ward, the possibilities are endless and it especially helps with our younger patients.
"One small child recently spent three hours using it, giving mum and dad that much-needed break.
“It’s also beneficial for patients who have been sedated, as it’s often hard for them to fall asleep after medication. The machine helps us create a calming environment for them to drift off.”
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