University of Melbourne medical students were mobilised to help The Royal Children’s Hospital cope with an influx of…sick and injured teddy bears.

In October 2013 the University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics and the RCH launched a seven-week Teddy Bear Hospital (TBH) pilot program in Specialist Clinics.

Volunteer medical, nursing and physiotherapy students staffed the teddy bear clinic, treating a range of teddy-specific conditions such as ‘hiccups of the knee’.

The program was aimed at helping children become comfortable with the medical consultation process while promoting health in a fun and hands-on environment.

Dr Wonie Uahwatanasakul, Academic Co-ordinator for the TBH, said that the initiative helped relax patients, allowed children to become comfortable with the medical consultation process and demystified medical procedures in the outpatient clinics.

Medical students also benefitted from the TBH, which has become an important part of paediatrics training for Doctor of Medicine students.

“The TBH offers medical students an excellent opportunity to improve their communication skills with children, and to develop patience and creativity in their dealings with them,” Dr Uahwatanasakul said. “It’s invaluable, most of our students have had little contact with children and it’s important to give them an opportunity to interact with a range of kids, and not just children who are ill.”

The TBH was open to any RCH patient, family member staying at the hospital or child visiting for an appointment. The THB will be back in 2015.

This article originally appeared in the RCH 2013-4 Quality of Care report, find it here.