Coronavirus: gift bags, TV shows for little patients at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital as social worker visits remain cancelled amid pandemic

A thousand gift bags and various interesting television programmes have been prepared for children suffering from complex and rare diseases, to help them adapt to life in isolation, the hospital said.

Since late January, social workers, who used to play an important role in accompanying children in the hospital, have been banned from visiting the premises after the health authority suspended public visits.

“The outbreak highlights the importance of volunteer support to the physical and mental health of the sick children as well as the operation of the hospital. Amid the pandemic, medical staff are taking great care to comfort the sick children,” said Nicole Teo, ward manager of paediatrics at the hospital.

Social work officer Yvonne Lam at the hospital said before the pandemic, the volunteers, also called “play therapists,” played with the children. But the little patients can no longer enjoy their company.

Children of various ages now receive gift bags, toys, books, handicraft materials, and colourful brochures of infection prevention. The hospital has prepared about 1,000 gift bags, 700 of which have been delivered.