More hospital smiles as Clowndoctors increase visits at Scotland's biggest children's hospital

A hospital prescription usually comes in the form of medicine, treatment or therapy. But for thousands of children and young people across Scotland, there's another kind of prescription helping to ease worry and anxiety, a visit from the Hearts & Minds' award-winning Clowndoctors.

The charity has announced it is increasing its Clowndoctor visits at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow from one day to two days each week, meaning more children and families will benefit from moments of laughter, imagination and support during their hospital stays.

For more than 25 years, Hearts & Minds' Clowndoctors have been a valued part of hospital life, delivering more than 3,600 interactions every year with children, families and healthcare staff. Through improvisation, playfulness, music, and compassion, Clowndoctors work together to create a very different kind of experience within the hospital environment, with no two visits being the same. By creating foolish characters who get things wrong and don’t always know what to do, Clowndoctors wait for the children to give ideas, make the decisions and become the ones in charge. It is this shift in dynamic, rather than the music, games or other elements of the visit, that makes healthcare clowning so distinctive and impactful, particularly for children and young people who may be feeling vulnerable during some of their most challenging times.

The expansion means more children, families and healthcare staff will benefit from a service that has become a valued part of hospital life. Currently, only 1 in 100 children and young people in hospital see a Clowndoctor, highlighting the opportunity to reach more families.

Clowndoctors work alongside healthcare teams, complementing the care and support already provided in hospitals to create positive experiences for children and families. Healthcare staff can refer Clowndoctors to individual patients, with visits tailored to the child in the moment, whether that means a gentle song, an imaginative adventure or simply creating space for laughter and connection. The impact is recognised by healthcare professionals, with 100% of staff surveyed agreeing that Clowndoctor visits reduced stress and improved emotional wellbeing for patients and families.

“A hospital stay can be a very difficult and overwhelming experience for many children and their families. We all know that emotional wellbeing is a vital part of the recovery process. At a time when treatment can leave a child with little choice or control, the Clowndoctors give them the opportunity to become the expert, make the rules and decide what happens next.

The Clowndoctors work alongside medical teams to reduce distress, support emotional regulation and build the trust and confidence that can help children engage with the people caring for them and the treatment they need. We have seen time and time again the difference these moments can make. A belly laugh, a moment of amazement or a spark of wonder can completely change how a child experiences their hospital stay.

Increasing our visits from one to two days each week means more children and families will have access to this support, helping make hospitals feel a little less daunting and a little more human. This is a huge step forward, but our ambition is to continue growing our presence so that one day every child who needs a Clowndoctor can have access to one.”

— Sean Donnelly, CEO at Hearts & Minds