THERE were some hairy moments and a lot of patients got stitched up, but not one of them complained.
And if their favourite teddy bears could hack a visit to the hospital, it’s plain that the little bear owners will feel much better about a visit if they have to have one.
Almost 900 children from across Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary brought their favourite teddies for some tender loving care and a for a check-up at the University of Limerick’s annual teddy bear hospital.
Organised by students of UL’s School of Medicine, the event offers children aged four to six the chance to engage with medical students in a fun setting aimed at alleviating childhood anxiety about medical environments.
Each child brought their own teddy bear who acted as the ‘patient’, and the medical student volunteers acted as the teddy’s doctors.
The children passed through a variety of themed
stations, each designed to make healthcare more approachable.
The event provides a unique way for children to experience the atmosphere at a hospital or healthcare setting without being patients themselves.
The children got a chance to take blood pressure and use stethoscopes, as well as proper handwashing, basic wound care, and how to ‘scan’ their teddies for broken bones at the x-ray station.
This year’s event took place at the UL Sports Arena and was run by 200 students and tutors from UL’s graduate entry medical programme and paramedic studies programmes.
“Our goal is to create an environment where children can learn about healthcare in a way that’s fun, engaging, and stress-free,” said Mathew Favrin, second year medical student at UL.
Classmate Arda Brahaj highlighted the importance of familiarising children with medical settings at a young age, saying that “many children, especially those who’ve had limited exposure to healthcare due to Covid, often feel anxious about visiting the doctor”.
“By introducing medical concepts at a young age, we help demystify healthcare and reduce that fear, making it a more approachable experience in the future.”
