DONATIONS from well-wishers are helping make Bradford children's stay in hospital more fun.

Thanks to support given to Bradford Hospitals Children’s Charity, Bradford Royal Infirmary’s three paediatric wards have taken delivery of extra specialist toys.

Interactive sensory toys, some of which are musical, were trialled on one of the wards last year and proved such a hit with patients that the charity stepped in to buy more.

Fundraiser Hayley Collis said: “We identified an additional need to buy more toys given that our poorly babies, toddlers and younger children with special needs really appreciated the distraction that they brought.

“Play offers much comfort to children who are sick or in distress as it is a very therapeutic tool for a child’s recovery or rehabilitation particularly when they spend a long time in hospital.

“Specialist toys likes these can also be crucial in helping children reach developmental goals and to cope with their feelings of anxiety, especially before and after surgery.”

Other money raised by the charity also helped buy more patient reward charts using stickers to encourage the children to take their medication or complete their physiotherapy.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Beccy Bardgett, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports Bradford Hospitals Children’s Charity as every penny goes towards making hospital stays that little bit more comfortable for our patients and their families.

"Play can provide valuable support to families, as well as siblings, and it can be used by doctors, nurses and other health professionals staff to observe a child. A huge thank-you and please do keep your donations coming - whether small or large - as they really are making a difference.”

The charity also supports craft and play materials for the BRI’s three playrooms and the children’s outpatient department at St Luke's Hospital on a regular basis.

And the charity has started an appeal to buy 60 fold-up beds for parents with poorly youngsters in hospital ready for the BRI's new £28 million wing which is being built and is set to transform the hospital’s children’s services and provide a state-of-the art intensive-care unit when it opens by autumn 2016.

It will house paediatric services on level two, two adult medicine wards on level one, and a purpose-built intensive-care unit on the ground floor.

To make a donation visit the charity's Justgiving page or call charity fundraiser Hayley Collis on 01274 274809.