A new play specialist for radiology is now working at Oxford Children’s Hospital to support more young patients having scans while they are still awake.
Sonia Dugmore, a senior play specialist, has been appointed for the role for two years, and will use her skills to help a huge number of children avoid the need for general anaesthetic when having MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, allowing them to get home much more quickly.
The children’s hospital is part of the West Wing at the John Radcliffe Hospital site in Headington.
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Some young patients - like those with spinal and brain injuries and certain cancers, have a lot of MRIs - so avoiding the need for a general anaesthetic makes a big difference.
Ms Dugmore will also be helping young patients having urodynamics, fluoroscopy and renal scans.
Funding for this new role has all come from Oxford Hospitals Charity, much of it from the annual OX5 Run in 2021.
The event last year was ‘virtual’ due to the pandemic but this year the five-mile run will return to Blenheim Palace on Sunday, March 20.
Ms Dugmore said: “This post was developed during the pandemic when our capacity for anaesthetics was significantly reduced, so we set up set up a programme using the skills of a play specialist to try to to increase the number of young patients having an MRI while still awake.
“It was such a success that we wanted to continue this work, and applied to the charity for funding to help.
“Thanks to their support many young patients undergoing MRIs and other important diagnostic scans, will now have specialist support during their procedures.
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“I am so excited about the difference this will make for these youngsters across the radiology departments at the children’s hospital and would like to thank all the charity supporters who helped make this happen.”
The play specialists have an important role – coaxing giggles from a baby in pain, distracting toddlers during difficult procedures, and calming teens afraid of what lies ahead.
The Oxford Hospitals Charity team supports them through its funding for toys, technology, and play areas – and now by funding this new role for two years.
If you’d like to support more important advances like this in the hospitals, make a donation, or get in touch with the team to find out how donation, fundraising and gifts in wills can make such a difference.
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Oxford Hospitals Charity supports the John Radcliffe, Oxford Children’s Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Churchill and Horton General hospitals.
To find out more about their work visit hospitalcharity.co.uk.
For the OX5 Run, runners and teams of all abilities (aged 10 and over) who can run, jog or walk the stunning Blenheim Palace course can take part. It costs £27 if you enter before January 31.
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