An app designed for children due for admission to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) has been launched in recent weeks.

Paediatric and Theatre Department Nurse Specialists in UHW have been working with a company called Little Journey (UK) to develop a platform for children. The app enables children and their families to view the hospital environment in which the child will spend time during their elective (planned) surgery or pre-booked blood tests.

The free web platform is app-based, so that parents and guardians can download Little Journey and it will give a virtual tour of the Paediatric Ward and the theatre environment at UHW.

Jennifer Phelan, Clinical Placement Co-Ordinator, and Carrie Flynn, Clinical Skills Facilitator, from the UHW Paediatric Department along with Tess Traynor, Quality Improvement Co-Ordinator, Sherly John and Lisa Brennan, Clinical Facilitators, from UHW Theatre Department say the aim is to reassure children and help them and their families to prepare and be less worried about their essential little journey to UHW. 

The Little Journey app also has interactive games that are aimed at distracting children while they are being examined or having bloods taken. There will also be lots of helpful information in the app to support parents.

The staff involved hosted a pop-up promotion and information stand in the main foyer of UHW in recent weeks.