TLC for kids
Description
We provide emergency distractions to nurture the emotional wellbeing of kids undergoing medical treatment, within 48 hours of the request being made.What does this mean?
If a child has been admitted to hospital with any illness or injury, and one of our approved nurses or healthcare professionals feels they could really do with something to bring back a bit of fun and normality, the nurse notifies us and advises what they think would do the trick (knowing the child and the family). Sometimes this is a surprise gift, a visit from a special celebrity they admire, or a day trip out from hospital. Other times, it might be something as simple as covering the cost of getting the child’s parents to the hospital to be by their side. The Rapid TLC service adapts to the needs of the child and family, and the trust we have developed over time in our hospital referral system means the service can never be abused. All requests are met within 48 hours, sometimes even within the hour, so that the child and their family gets the support when it matters most. We sometimes refer to our service as ‘the fire brigade of children’s charities!’
We also distribute and manage a network of 1000 (currently) Distraction Boxes, which take up permanent residence in over 400 Australian hospitals and medical institutions. These boxes are used by nurses and healthcare professionals to guide children through frightening and painful procedures, drastically reducing procedure time and hence, hospital waiting lists.