The Confident Patient Project

25/11/2025

We’re all human and we don’t always get it right!

I talk a lot about the before, during and after a procedure or medical experience.

The gold standard would be to think about all three for every procedure- but the reality is life is busy! And we don’t always have time (or brain space) for it.

When it comes to medical experiences, reflection is such a powerful tool and the great things is, it happens after it’s all over.

Afterall, a lot of medical experiences we can’t plan for- A&E anyone?!

So, on this occasion, I didn’t get it right, and that’s ok.

Have you ever talked about a medical experience wiht your child after it was all over? Was it helpful? I’d love to hear your experience

19/11/2025

Sometimes, support can’t wait.

I have just started working with this family who are currently inpatient, in hospital and have been for 2 weeks.

On Friday, they were told their child would need a procedure early the next week and they were all very anxious.

Not only about the procedure itself, but about what that procedure meant for their child and their future.

48 hours after the initial contact, the family and I had a session together to think about the impact of their admission, the stresses they all face as well as the constant feeling of overwhelm. They also had a written document with practical advice, hints and tips. All of which we discussed in our session.

Sometimes support can’t wait and, if you ever find yourself worrying about something healthcare related, I’ll be here.

11/11/2025

The Confident Patient Project’s first collaboration and, boy, is it a good one!

Starlight Children’s Foundation are the UK’s leading charity working to put play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.

They have developed a new way of supporting families; offering free online, small group sessions for parents and carers. Each session will focus on a different topic- first up: vaccinations. Working alongside other registered, qualified health play specialists, I will share my hints, tips and experiences of supporting children and young people for upcoming vaccinations.

I first came into contact with Starlight when I was working as a health play specialist in the NHS and then through my role as a trustee with The Society of Health Play Specialists. In 2023, I spent a year consulting on the Play Well Toolkit, writing the standards and designing the audit tool along with an amazing taskforce of multi-disciplinary professionals - all of which was published by NHS England this summer!

Fast forward a year and Starlight have invited me to work with them again, and I couldn’t be more exicted!

Want to know more? Comment ‘Collab’ and I’ll be in touch.

30/09/2025

Last week my son’s teacher approached me to tell me he had been complaining of a sore arm. He had told her it had started that weekend (first I’d heard of it!) and that he had mentioned it a couple of times throughout the day.

Now, my son doesn’t complain of pain, so I took him seriously. Some children do complain of something hurting on a regular basis. My advice is always the same- take them seriously.

Why? Because they are trying to communicate something to you.

My son’s ‘pain’ lasted, on and off, for 2 more days. Was it coincidence that he’s still getting used to a new school year? Who knows! But whether he was genuinely in physical pain, or not, here’s what I do.

Does your child complain of pain often? What do you do?

29/09/2025

This was me last week…
Tell me; where would your mind go?

Honestly, I think I had a mixture of all of these! Working in hospitals for nearly 15 years you are surrounded by ‘worst case scenarios’ so it’s hard not to let those intrusive thoughts linger.

Am I alone in this? Tell me in the poll x

Other? Tell me in the comments

13/06/2025

‘You can do hard things’

And I did!

On Thursday I presented to 130+ other health play specialists, healthcare professionals and play advocates.

I talked about my experience of setting up on my own, away from the NHS. I talked about the support I offer. And I talked about the incredible families I work with.

There is only one other HPS (that I know of) working independently in the country so it’s all very new, very exciting and there is still a lot to learn! (About having a small business, that is!)

Public speaking is not my happy place but I did it. I just thought of all the children and families that I support who have to do hard things every day, and if they can do it, I know I can too. And I did!

05/06/2025

This was such an exciting project to be a part of and a huge development within our profession!

A very proud and exciting day!

NHS England » Play well – resources for health play services for England