Story book boost for young patients

Eighty copies of Riley Goes To Hospital have been donated to New Cross Hospital after Stuart Mitchell, former Theatres Matron at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust met the ModuleCo company at a conference. ModuleCo is an off-site construction provider of specialist hospital buildings, and its Marketing Manager Eliot Langfield wrote the book, while his colleague Nigel Byde illustrated it.

It tells the story of Riley, a girl who loves to play and dance, who falls off a wall and needs to go hospital when she breaks her leg. The book describes all the healthcare staff she encounters – from Paramedics to Porters, Doctors, Nurses and Pharmacists.

Kirsty Lewis, Senior Matron for Paediatrics, said: “Our young patients will often feel very nervous about coming to hospital, particularly if they know they will need an operation, so this book explains things in a friendly way to them and is very reassuring in its tone.

“It sets out what is likely to happen if a child needs surgery and I think will also help parents and carers feel less anxious about what needs to happen. It’s a useful resource for us to have to explain things and we’re grateful to ModuleCo for the donation.”

The book is written in short verses, and Riley meets a host of healthcare staff including Pete the Porter and Millie the Matron, all of whom let her know what is happening and why things need to be done to help her feel better.

Amie Rogers,  Fundraising and Lead Digital Engagement Officer for Your RWTC, the Trust’s charity, added: “Eliot has written a charming book – the rhyming verses work so well. I’m sure it will be put to good use in our hospital to help patients and their families understand the different roles of our staff who all work together to make people better as quickly as they can.”