Teddy Bear Hospital (TBH) is an initiative brought to Flinders University Medical Program students by the General Practitioners Student Network NT (GPSN NT). TBH aims to alleviate fear of health professionals and hospitals by familiarising children with common equipment, as well as teaching and promoting basic public health initiatives. This event also provides students with the opportunity to practice their communication skills with paediatric patients, who can be some of the toughest critics!
TBH was hosted on Larrakia land at the Charles Darwin University (CDU) Medical School and saw 35 children aged 5-10 years navigate their way through 4 different stations. Each station was designed by the GPSN team to promote a healthy lifestyle and familiarise children with clinical situations. Twenty-four medical students from Flinders NT coordinated and participated in the event which was received with great enthusiasm and appreciation by the community who attended. The stations included:
- 000, what’s your emergency
- A Teddy Bears Picnic (healthy food choices)
- What’s in the Doctors Bag (Teddy visits the doctor)
- Clean Hands are Happy Hands (correct hand washing technique)
Our Teddy Bear Junior Doctors were also treated to a very special visit from St Johns Ambulance Service. Our paramedics were able to familiarise the children with the ambulance as well as educate the children regarding emergency situations. Our junior doctors left our hospital with lots of smiles, healthy Teddy’s and a goodie bag to remember the fun they had visiting the hospital.
A special thankyou to Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE) for sponsoring the event as well as Flinders NT for supplying the venue. We would also like to acknowledge and thank the volunteer medical students who embraced the event with high levels of enthusiasm, kindness and laughter and who were integral in the success of this event. GPSN NT is looking forward to hosting TBH in 2019 and making it an annual event.
