2 September 2022
Gifts and certificates for children
You are a child and you’ve come into Southampton Children’s Hospital with your parents for an MRI scan as the doctor has asked for a test. You’re nervous, and the machine is loud. Finally, it is over and as you step out of the room, you are presented with a certificate of bravery and a small gift to enjoy. Suddenly, the hospital doesn’t seem as scary anymore.
Pedro Freitas, MRI Superintendent Radiographer, says: “When in hospital, children often need scans and tests to help medical professionals diagnose a range of illnesses or injuries.
MRI scans help doctors to see your bones, tissues, and organs clearly, without need for surgery. However, the MRI scanner is big, loud, and can be scary for young children when they need to remain as still as possible for the imaging to work.
The Wessex Neurological Centre’s paediatric MRI scanners will see around 2,000 children a year under the age of 16 without being under general anaesthetic.
Through Southampton Hospitals Charity, we’ve been able to provide some small presents such as bubbles, soft toys, dolls, football cards, as well as a bravery certificate, so if the children need to come down to us again, they aren’t as worried as they were the first time.
These have gone down so well with the children and parents, and it is an initiative we will continue to provide for our patients.”