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Right, Health Play Specialists. Let’s do this...
Approaches, advice & toys if HPS is unavailable. IF unavailable (not just because nobody bleeped)...& ideally not screen dependent
@SalTwinkles @spencer_sian @CharlotteCoops @LLaurajwalsh @PlayTeamRLH @PlayinNHS @PlayTeamNGH https://twitter.com/robbradley01/status/1354337946724298753
Approaches, advice & toys if HPS is unavailable. IF unavailable (not just because nobody bleeped)...& ideally not screen dependent
@SalTwinkles @spencer_sian @CharlotteCoops @LLaurajwalsh @PlayTeamRLH @PlayinNHS @PlayTeamNGH https://twitter.com/robbradley01/status/1354337946724298753
My little thread: If circumstances allow, lots can be gained by slowing down, sitting w the child & talking - partly explaining the procedure, perhaps making a plan for how to make it manageable & getting a sense of their interests or temperament - this can guide the approach 1/
Then, if you can, asking someone to be ‘the distractor’ can be v important - means you can focus on (eg) cannulation & not try to juggle this with - say - Actual Juggling 
& joke-telling all at once!! Nobody can do ALL the jobs. (NB. Ideally distractor also doesn’t ‘hold’) 2/
& joke-telling all at once!! Nobody can do ALL the jobs. (NB. Ideally distractor also doesn’t ‘hold’) 2/
If however, staff are limited, well-timed questions are a strong distraction technique. Asking ‘Is it just you & Mum at home?’ or ‘Do you have a pet?’ or ‘Where would you normally be on a Mon morning?’ encourages imagining familiarity - a v simple form of ‘guided imagery’... 3/
In combination with GOOD topical pain relief & asked *just* before you insert a needle/cannula, starting this thought-process may be enough for the child to be distracted at a crucial moment: As you do the venepuncture, they think of something safe - their dog, or best friend. 4/
Otherwise, games requiring focus, precision or ‘a role’ work well. Again it’s the timing of the action that can be key - *just* as you start the procedure, you might notice the HPS say to Jack - ‘Hey, it’s yr turn in Connect Four.’ That timing’s not coincidence - it’s crucial 5/
There is def a myth in paeds that distraction = NOISE. Actually the most effective approaches are often quiet & focussed. Distractor (HPS) fully focussed on child, child engaged in task or talk, staff able to *safely* do procedure. Position & pain relief considered early 
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@SalTwinkles @spencer_sian @PenHartSpencer @Keshia95950563 @KatieCollis6 @PlayinNHS @PlayTeamRLH @PlayTeamNGH @lil_HEARNY Feel free to join & add suggestions - we are so passionate in our work - it’s good & important for Play Specialists to be asked what works, when, how & why...
@robbradley01 forgot to tag you in this little thread - doh! Silly me!
