Play Specialist honoured for helping children

Laura Clay, a Health Play Specialist at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH), has been named runner-up in the Health Play Specialist of the Year category of Starlight charity’s Health Play Awards 2025.

The announcement coincides with Play in Healthcare Week (13-18 October), which, run by the Society of Health Play Specialists, highlights the vital role of play in children’s healthcare. This year marks 30 years of the annual awareness week and 50 years of play being used to support children and young people in hospital settings.

Laura was nominated by colleagues in the Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology team for her outstanding work supporting children and young people diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) – a painful autoimmune condition requiting regular medication and close management.

Laura, initially a teacher before training in health play, worked at Southampton Children's Hospital before joining the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC), part of OUH, in Oxford in 2021.

Since then, she has developed her role in the outpatient department, using tailored play and preparation resources to help children understand and cope with procedures. She finds creative ways to adapt activities for different age groups and integrates her work into the multidisciplinary medical team.

Laura said: "We're a close-knit team and we’re all focused on the same thing – making hospital visits as manageable as possible for the child. That means collaborating with doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists to ensure that play isn’t just fun – it's purposeful, helping children understand treatments, support medications, and build confidence.”

She also provides emotional support for children struggling with their medication and the impact the condition is having on their lives. Paediatric Physiotherapist Eleanor Lawson said: "She is a fantastic asset to the team. I can see how much her style of conversation would help young people understand their diagnosis and develop positively as a person with a long-term condition."

Laura's nomination also highlighted her work with teenagers through the 'Ready Steady Go' scheme, which helps the transition to young adult services (16-23). She said: "I love doing this work as I can spend time talking to the young people, building their confidence and independence."

One case that stands out for Laura involved a young man who was very anxious about regular blood tests. She said: "I worked with him and his family to help him understand why the blood tests were necessary. Eventually, he had a blood test using our virtual reality headset as a distraction. He now attends clinics with less apprehension and always uses the VR headset with my support."

She added that a child's responses to diagnosis and treatment can change over time: "They might hit seven or eight and decide they've had enough, which is distressing, and my role definitely helps them through these periods too. I acknowledge with the children that it is horrible to have JIA but it's manageable."

Laura was "astonished" at her selection for the runner-up award: "To be recognised in this way means a lot to me – it makes it all worthwhile."

Jo Pinney, Health Play Specialist Team Manager at OUH, said: "Laura has made such a positive impact with the patients, families and team at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

"I am incredibly proud that her work has been recognised by her colleagues and Starlight this year. In four years she has evaluated and made huge improvements to the care of patients in her service.

"Laura is very resourceful and always looking for the next big thing to support children and young people. Her work with both teenagers and virtual reality is incredible."

Dr Krutika Pau, Deputy CEO of Starlight, said: "Laura's dedication and compassion embody the very best of the health play profession. By using play in such a purposeful and sensitive way, she helps children and young people feel less frightened and more in control of their care and condition.

"Her creativity and commitment not only make a real difference to the children and families she supports but also inspire colleagues across the organisation. We're delighted to see her recognised in this year’s Health Play Awards."