| Jack Wood was one of a number of children chosen to meet Scottish Public Health Minister Shona Robison when she visited Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital today.
All of the children were, or had been, patients in the children’s ward at the hospital and were invited to participate in the celebrations, including tucking into a specially-made NHS birthday cake, to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS by drawing posters for display in the hospital.
Little Jack had just spent 13 days recovering from complications following an operation to remove his appendix. Mum Sally said the Andover Primary School pupil had seen everyone else getting out of hospital, while he was left behind feeling very, very ill.
Hospital play co-ordinator Margaret Deuchars said it was only when Jack was asked to draw a picture for the anniversary — he depicted a patient lying under an X-ray machine with staff in attendance — that he was able to speak about his fears and worries in hospital.
Mrs Deuchars said drawing pictures was a way that her team regularly used to get children to express feelings they could not otherwise put into words.
“Jack’s picture was amazing,” said Mrs Deuchars. “He was able to tell us how he felt. It was hard for him.
“He was frightened and he didn’t know if he was going to get better because at the time he felt so ill.”
Jack is now back home and doing fine.
Ms Robison also met Rhys Sutherland (6) from Broughty Ferry, who drew a picture of several nurses, who, he said, were “fantastic” when he was in hospital being treated for asthma.
Ms Robison then officially opened the new fresh air garden adjacent to the hospital entrance.
The former fenced-off smoking area has undergone a major landscaping since the introduction of a smoking ban in hospital grounds.
In another area of the hospital site, Ms Robison viewed a specially-planted NHS at 60 commemorative flower bed, the work of the hospital’s gardening team.
There are a number of stalls in the new fresh air garden, staffed throughout today to advise visitors on various aspects of healthy living.
On one there was an opportunity for visitors to try out exercise bikes, an opportunity accepted by NHS Tayside chairman Sandy Watson and vice-chairman Murray Petrie. |
