Teddy bears donated to Lagan Valley

Teddies were also donated to Emergency Departments at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald and the Downe Hospital in Downpatrick.

Distressed

The bears were donated to the hospital for staff to give out to children or patients at their discretion.

Giving a teddy bear to anyone who is distressed while in hospital will enable the medical staff to carry on with their vital work and help children and families have a more comforting experience.

The teddies will be used in various ways, for the child or patient to cuddle as a reward for being brave and for staff to demonstrate what they are going to do.

The teddies also act as a distraction and can provide reassurance for the child which helps, parents, guardians and siblings.

Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) is a charity supported by the Masonic Order within Ireland who donate sterile packaged teddy bears to hospital emergency departments in both Northern and Southern Ireland.

Cathal Killen Clinical Co-Ordinator, Emergency Medicine explained: “This is an excellent charity and will really help when children attend the department.

“Children can find an attendance to the Emergency Department very distressing, by giving them one off these beautiful cuddly teddies, the child feels reassured and happier during their visit and it is great that they can take the teddy home.

“We can even put bandages, plasters, etc on the teddies to reassure the child.

“We would like to thank Teddies for Loving Care for their generosity,” he added.

Focused

David Penpraze from Teddies for Loving care (TLC) said: “Teddies for Loving Care are being given to Emergency Departments in the Ulster, Lagan Valley and Downe hospitals as part of our increasing involvement within many parts of the community in Northern Ireland.

“The charity was started in England because of the distress of a patient, witnessed by her family, when being treated in an Emergency Unit for a life threatening condition.

“She survived but the family wanted to help others in similar situations and focused on children who could less understand the strange environment and the things being done to them.”