Blood taking and sensory equipment for York Hospital Children's Services

13 MARCH 2025

York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity has recently funded blood taking and sensory equipment for York Hospital’s children’s services.

Charlotte Taylor, Play Leader, explained the benefit the equipment will have to patients.

“Ray Rabbit phlebotomy device is a friendly rabbit which can be attached to IV, draw and fill blood bottles to help children with desensitisation to blood tests and cannulation.  Through play, it helps children manage the worry of these medical procedures.

"Two buzzy bee devices are being used for blood taking, vaccinations, injections as a numbing option or distraction from the medical procedure the child is undertaking. Using vibration and cold pack sensation the aim of the bee is to block the pain signals sent from brain to body during the procedure. This device has been used in the therapeutic play clinic as an option to be used in blood testing, allowing young people to try this out and see if this helps them.

“Four jelly fish tanks have gone into the Child Development Centre (CDC), Day Unit and wards 17 and 18 treatment rooms and clinical areas to provide a sensory resource that is calming and distracting for children. With changing lights and moving jellyfish, they are being used every day by children of all ages.

“Two pop-up blackout tents and light machines have been funded for the Day Unit paediatric area and the CDC. These are well-used items in developmental clinics providing a safe, separate space for children to sit in that may make them feel calmer in the clinical environment of hospital and help with regulation during appointments in hospital. The aim is to promote a positive hospital experience and look after the child’s wellbeing. These are also being used every day by many children of all ages.

“I am very grateful to York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity for funding all this equipment!”