CLOWN DOCTORS TICKLED PINK BY GOODFUND DONATION
06/02/2008

Laughter is the best medicine for sick kids at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital

Sick kids at three Newcastle hospitals can continue to receive specialist play treatment from local arts initiative, The Clown Doctors thanks to a generous £3,000 donation from GoodFund, the charity of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Kids in hospital can often feel lonely, confused, bored and experience a loss of control.  The Clown Doctors programme aims to empower the children through humour and play.

Claire Andrews, from Tin Arts Production who run the Clown Doctors group, said: 

“All of our artists have extensive experience of working with kids and have been trained in specialist play methods so they can work closely with the hospital staff to offer the best support. 

We are delighted to receive this funding from GoodFund.”

The Clown Doctors dropped into the Children’s Heart Ward at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.  Natalie Bell, 12, was lucky enough to receive a visit from the team.  Natalie went to her GP with tonsillitis on New Year’s Day and has since contracted pneumonia, pluracy and fluid on the lung.  She is having surgery to have the fluid removed and hopes to be back to school soon.

The Clown Doctors work on a referral scheme generally visiting paediatric wards on a weekly basis and working under the guidance of each hospital’s play specialist and nurses. 

Jo Chexal, Trustee of GoodFund who presented the cheque to Dr Jemima Jamjuggle and Dr Percy Peawhacker, said:

“We are very proud to have provided funding to the Clown Doctors to help children across the North East continue to receive the best possible care in aiding their recovery to full health.”

The GoodFund donation has provided equipment for the artists including new scrubs, red noses, modelling balloons and thumb pianos.

GoodFund recently awarded £8,580.00 to the Children’s Foundation for their Cerebral Palsy Assessment Centre at the RVI, Newcastle.