By Isobel Williams.

A teenage boy played a game of chess with hospital staff during an operation as part of a pioneering new anxiety initiative - and won.

Calum Griffin, 15, stayed awake and played the classic board game under local anaesthetic during a minor foot operation.

The treatment at Medway Maritime Hospital uses innovative distraction and relaxation techniques as a way of easing anxiety linked to surgery.

As well as the game of chess, Calum was taught deep breathing and guided imagery, which involved imagining that he was playing video games at home and eating his favourite foods.

The operation was a success and Calum, from Medway, was able to go home straight away without spending recovery time in hospital.

Calum’s mum, Laura Waller, who works in nursing as a clinical sister at the same hospital, says she felt much calmer knowing her son wasn’t being put to sleep.

She said: “We are really pleased with the experience overall – although there was some initial fear about pain linked to the operation and the local anaesthetic injection, the staff really eased this throughout with their care and distraction techniques.

‘“The chess match really kept his brain engaged and helped take his mind off the operation – he even won the game””

“We hope that Calum can inspire other children and young adults to have minor operations in this way under local anaesthetic – it means that he was feeling better far more quickly, was able to go home sooner, and there was less risk associated to the procedure.

“As a mum, I was less stressed knowing that Calum wouldn’t be put to sleep, and he came out of the theatre with a big smile on his face.’”

Dr Samantha Black, consultant paediatric and perioperative anaesthetist at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Anaesthetic anxiety is a common challenge for anaesthetists, anaesthetic practitioners, and the wider team.

“Recognising and managing this with our young patients can have many benefits, helping to minimise their distress, and that of their families and staff looking after them.

“If not managed well, this can have consequences such as the child needing greater amounts of anaesthetic, increased delirium, pain and sickness, and delayed recovery, ultimately spending more time in hospital.

“We are very proud to be working with our young patients and their families to offer this innovative and personally-designed hospital experience. We hope it will inspire others to provide more of this treatment.’”