When a clown entered the Horse & Groom Public House
in Linby, a few eyebrows were raised as there wasn’t a children’s party taking
place. However, this was no ordinary
clown but Dr Flora Flowerpot who had
come to share with the members of Hucknall Rotary Club the amazing work that
Giggle Doctors perform. Dr Flowerpot
is one of only 22 Giggle Doctors nationwide who, through the charity Theodora
Children’s Trust, visit 60,000 children annually in 18 UK hospitals.
A stay in hospital can be a
scary and daunting time for us all, particularly for children. They find
themselves in a new environment full of different people, strange equipment and
tests and procedures that may often be painful or uncomfortable. The usual routine
of school, friends and play can be disrupted as the illness becomes the focus
and many of the children visited spend weeks at a time away from home. On a
dialysis ward for example, children can be there 3 times a week for most of
their childhood and on an oncology ward children may be in and out of hospital
for years. Theodora Children’s Trust believe children in hospital need respite
from their suffering. The role of the Giggle Doctor is essential to the
hospital as it is always important to remember that the patients are children
first and patients second and therefore have the same needs as all children of
their age.
Giggle doctor Flora Flowerpot (who also goes by the name
of Helen Jones and is a former pupil of Hucknall’s National School) told Rotarians how she had undergone a
rigorous two year training schedule of artistic and medical workshops covering
topics such as child development, infection control, child bereavement and the
impact of illness and bereavement on families. Prior to the meeting, no-one present had heard
of Theodora Children’s Trust but after listening to Dr Flowerpot, those members
present were amazed by the work of the Giggle Doctors. Further information about Theodora Children’s
Trust is available online http://www.theodora.org.uk/
Dr Flora Flowerpot is pictured with President Ian Young
of Hucknall Rotary Club
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