CHILDREN being treated at Hinchingbrooke Hospital have been given a new piece of equipment that is designed to distract them during painful treatments.

Children’s charity Dreamdrops spent just over a year fundraising to buy the 3D Interactive Pain and Anxiety Distraction Unit which will be used by young outpatients at the Huntingdon hospital and those staying on Holly Ward. The kit includes computer packages, takes young patients into the magical world of 3D sensory programmes which are designed to distract them during painful treatments.

Dreamdrops chairman Anne-Marie Hamilton said: “The immense kindness and generosity of many local people and organisations has meant that we now have a ‘state of the art’ 3D pain distraction unit which will make a significant difference to children in hospital whilst they are undergoing medical treatment.

“I was enthralled by the visual effects when I saw them demonstrated. I suspect that the problem that we will have now will be to persuade children to leave the treatment room once their procedures have finished as the cartoons are mesmerising!”

Holly Ward manager Chris Luckham added: “We are privileged to have such an amazing piece of equipment that will provide distraction for both the child and parent during any stressful procedures. I would like to thank Dreamdrops for making the children’s journey through hospital a far better experience.”