Thanks to the generosity of families and businesses in West Norfolk, frightened youngsters arriving for treatment at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s A&E will now have a plethora of toys.
Last week, Emergency Nurses at the hospital appealed for help in asking parents to ensure that toys remained in the specialist Children’s A&E area after a number had gone missing.
Since then, staff at the unit have been inundated with bags of games, puzzles, cars and plastic figures thanks to generous youngsters clearing out their toy boxes along with a number of donations from adults. The unit is now fully stocked with toys.
Toys have also been donated by staff from Hardwick Tesco and Learning Resources, which is based in Bergen Way, King’s Lynn, plus there have been generous pledges from The Vancouver Quarter and Book Life, which is also based in King’s Lynn.
The A&E department has also received scores of books along with a financial donation.
Divisional Director for Medicine Andy Evans said: “We have been astounded by the response from the people of West Norfolk and the surrounding area.
“Children and people of all ages have rallied around to ensure that A&E has a wide range of toys and games.
“These donations will not only help to distract youngsters who arrive at A&E frightened and in pain but they have also meant a great deal to our staff.
“I would like to thank everyone for their support but we are now fully stocked for toys.”
The dedicated play area, along with distraction toys, is an important part of the specialist paediatric area, which opened in 2015 as part of an upgrade of the A&E department.
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Hannah Gargan and Lindsey van Dyke from Learning Resources present toys to Heather Long and Amy Frary from A&E
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