The “Little Journey” app gives children and their families the chance to prepare for surgery from the comfort of home. Using real photos of hospital facilities, it takes viewers on a journey to Arthur Levin Day Surgery Unit, Rudham Ward, the anaesthetic room and recovery areas and explains what to expect on the day of their procedure.
Available for use on a smartphone or tablet, the app has been piloted in several NHS hospitals with great feedback from children and their families. It has been brought to The QEH, thanks to generous funding from King’s Lynn Hospitals’ League of Friends.
Chris Harrison, Paediatric Lead Nurse at QEH, and Dr Victoria Howell, Lead Paediatric Anaesthetist, were integral in bringing the app to The QEH and believe it will greatly enhance our young patients and their families making hospital a less frightening and more positive experience.
Dr Howell said: “We are really excited to be able to roll out this brilliant app. It will take children and their parents on a virtual journey through our ward and theatres, explain what will happen and talk about how they may feel.”
Chris said: “We are all really passionate about helping children and young people and their families be better prepared for surgery and less anxious before they visit us”
Little Journey was founded in 2018 by Dr Chris Evans and Sophie Copley. As an anaesthetic doctor and father himself, Chris witnessed first-hand the distress experienced by children and families coming to hospital for surgery.
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Notes to editors;
For media enquires only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216.
For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
You can download the full press pack here.
Group photo from left to right:
Chris Harrison, Paediatric Lead Nurse, Day Surgery Unit
Steph West, Staff Nurse
Nicola Staff, Paediatric Pre- Assessment Nurse
Victoria Howell, Anaesthetic Consultant
Sophie Carter, Health Play Specialist
Claire Burrell, Play Assistant
QEH Media Hub 