Building on the professional relationships established with staff at Northampton General Hospital paved the way for representatives from the Centre to work within the hospital supporting oncology patients and their families. Primarily, they spend time with youngsters who have previously been patients on Disney Ward.

For over ten years members of the Disney Team, as it is now called, attend the Children’s Outpatients Department on Wednesday afternoon. They keep the children entertained with art and craft activities and liaise with parents about facilities and support available at the Centre.

There are several members of the Disney Team who are also volunteer therapists at the Dunstone Bennett Complementary Centre. They all have previous experience working in a medical environment or with children.

Each member of the team has been through Northampton General Hospital’s selection process to qualify for Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) status, which was previously the Criminal and Record Bureau (CRB) checks.

Feedback from the medical staff, patients and families is favourable and the Disney Team plan to continue making visits for the foreseeable future.