2023
Teddy Bear Hospital treats sick and injured teddies
- The annual event aims to introduce children to healthcare professional in a friendly environment.
- Activities are designed to help children be more at ease when visiting the doctor in the future.
More than 750 children, aged between 4 – 6, will bring their sick and injured teddies to be treated at the Teddy Bear Hospital at University College Cork.
Hosted by medical students in the UCC’s Medical Society, the annual Teddy Bear Hospital aims to help children to feel comfortable when interacting with healthcare professionals.
During their hospital visits, children will be invited to experience three main stations which mirror a real-life hospital – a waiting room, a treatment room and an exercise room. In the treatment room, medical students will assess and treat the teddies with medical supplies provided by the Bon Secours Hospital and Cork Fire Service. In the exercise area, children will learn a variety of exercise routines that will support their teddies’ return to full health.
Denis Cronin, Education Officer for MedSoc, said: “The Teddy Bear Hospital aims to help decrease the anxiety and stigma that kids may have while interacting with healthcare professionals. We hope these hospital visits will help children be more at ease when visiting the doctor in the future. The event will also greatly benefits our student volunteers, future medical professionals, who will be treating all patients over the next three days.”
