ABSTRACT
During the past fifteen years there has been a growing awareness of the emotional welfare of children in hospital. Many paediatric wards now have open visiting hours and provide facilities for parents to be resident with their sick child. Some nursing staff on children’s wards have come out of uniform. Hospital play schemes are being run by trained play specialists. Meeting children’s emotional needs, as well as their physical needs, is being seen as a necessity in the total care of hospitalized children.
