Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of play-based interventions in healthcare settings on (1) the need for sedation and general anaesthetic in paediatric procedures, and (2) NHS costs.

No specific assessment of the kind suggested has been made, but the Government is committed to using play services to improve the experience of children staying in hospital and support them when undergoing procedures. The NHS and Starlight’s Play Well Toolkit is helping local services deliver high-quality play provision for children.

Decisions on funding services are ultimately for local commissioners, but the toolkit supports those decision makers to establish services that are high quality and effective. NHS England will continue both to promote its use and stress the importance of child-focused care across NHS services.