Lego helps staff explain treatment to children at Clatterbridge

Paediatric specialist radiographer Sarah Stead, patient Reece Holt and Legoland master model builder Alex Bidolak.

In October, The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust received a specially built Lego radiography machine from Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester, designed to help staff explain to children how radiotherapy works.

Ten-year-old Reece Holt from Morecambe was treated with radiotherapy for a brain tumour and became fascinated by the technology behind the equipment.  Taking inspiration from the basic model he made his own recreation of the machine which he gave to the radiotherapy department.  He said: “I thought if another child was scared of the machine, they could play with it first so it didn’t seem so scary when they had treatment.”

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre  then decided to see if Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester would reproduce a bigger version and was thrilled when master model builder Alex Bidolak got involved, creating a model that Holt accepted on behalf of the hospital.

Stead said: “Children are vulnerable and a visit to a new hospital can be a daunting experience.  I focus a lot of the time on play, as it helps children to understand, make friends and develop relationships but more importantly to have fun.  I spend time with each child in the radiotherapy machine room explaining how it works but unfortunately time is limited.  I can use the Lego model to explain how the machine will move in more depth and answer any of their questions.”

She added: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester for putting the time and effort into making this model; it will be an invaluable tool.”

See the full report on page 36 of the November 2016 issue of RAD Magazine.