Both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital have been taking part in National Play in Hospital Week.

The theme of the National Association of Health Play Specialists' week is 'play is good for your health' and will involve hospitals across the country putting on fun activities for young patients to help celebrate.

As part of the celebrations, a national art comeptition has been running. Children in hospitals and hospices throughout the UK have been asked to submit a drawing or a painting that illustrates: 'when I'm in hospital my favourite way to play or relax is...'.

Winners will be announced next week - seven regional and one national winner will be awarded prizes donated by toy company, Tobar.

The winning entry will be used in promotional materials for National Play in Hospital week in the future.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has three health play specialists - Vicki Belton, Sue Edwards and Sheree Marks - who all work across both hospitals.

Play specialists work closely with other staff on children’s wards. Their role includes organising daily activities, helping children cope with anxieties, using play to prepare children for procedures and teaching the value of play to children in hospital.

They also support the families and siblings of patients and organise special parties and events.

Vicki Belton, who has worked for the trust, in the role for 12 years, said: “This special week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of play and activity in the treatment of poorly children and young people.

"Children who are unwell, or who are recovering from an illness, often show improvement and get better much more quickly when they are regularly distracted from the clinical aspect of their stay in hospital, and when they have interesting and constructive things to do.”