Daisy Dog the Paediatric Rheumatology Therapy Dog!
In May, Wag volunteers Martin, Jackie and FD Daisy attended the British Society of Rheumatology Nurses Networking Meeting in Newcastle. The Paediatric Rheumatology Team from the Great North Children’s Hospital presented to everyone on how having Daisy in clinic has improved their patients experience. They also wrote thanking Martin, Jackie and Daisy for all their time both in the hospital and in preparing Daisy for her sessions.
Wag & Company’s mission is older people and making sure that no older dog lover misses human friendship and the company of a dog. But uniquely, as part of our Doggies on Prescription partnership with Newcastle Hospitals for patients in hospitals and patients at home in the community, in December 2024, we also agreed to include their children and to invite their existing therapy dog volunteers to join Wag. We also introduced new visiting protocols including a special dog assessment for volunteering with children for Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust.
It is now a unique and very small – but mighty – part of our work in Newcastle upon Tyne.
When you think about dog’s visiting, you may think about a dog sitting quietly next to a patient having a cuddle and a treat and everyone having a chat with the volunteer too. But dogs can, and are, being used to do so much more, as clever little Daisy Dog shows.
Over time Daisy has learned how to demonstrate the Paediatric Gait Analogue Skills assessment and to support Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale assessments. She joins in with physio treatments and exercises and helps patients to engage with their physio input. She also provides loads and loads of cuddles and generally helps to make the hospital experience less stressful for her young patients.
Daisy attends clinic once weekly with Jackie and Martin and is supervised by a member of the team. Each doggy interaction is carefully planned and consented. Daisy meets one family at a time in a dedicated space, spending time with an average of six children per clinic. The reasons for having this interaction include the patient’s anxiety, distress, low mood and/or poor treatment compliance.
The feedback from patients, parents and carers is wonderful: “Daisy is so clever at copying and working with the physio”. “Daisy Dog has kept my daughter calm”. “Daisy is a nice distraction”. “What an incredible addition to the team”. “She makes me happy”. “She makes hospital fun.” “Can we have Daisy Dog teddies?” “Please can she come all the time”. “I enjoy stroking her, it makes me feel realy happy”. “Keep the dog!”.
Paediatric Rheumatology Nurse Specialists Beth and Lucy told us: “Daisy has rapidly become an invaluable asset to our clinic, reducing anxiety, improving engagement and making hospital visits something to look forward to”.
Wonderful to hear! A very special job all round Team McClellan!
