Special treatment in hospital

Date Published: 22-Jan-2008

ALMOST 400 children brought their unwell teddies to have them checked at the annual Teddy Bear Hospital, which was held in NUI Galway on Friday.

The event was organised by the Sláinte Society, the NUIG branch of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations, and the main aim of the day was to help dispel some of the fears that children may have of a hospital environment.

Children and their teddies visited the team of student ‘Teddy Doctors’ and ‘Teddy Nurses’ who examined the patients and took a full medical history.

Appropriate medical action was taken, whether it was applying bandages, or taking the ‘patients’ on a trip to the Teddy X-ray machine or the Teddy MRI machine. There was also a Teddy Pharmacy fully stocked with nourishing vitamin juices and other healthy treats to promote healthy eating and dietary well being.

More than 150 NUI Galway students volunteered their time to explain just how the treatments worked and dispel any fears that the children might have. Many of the students who took part are…..