Helping children to be less afraid of radiology machines has been the inspiration behind a new book penned by a King’s Lynn mum.
Radiology Clinical Support Worker Sally Nederpel is hoping Arthur Has An X-Ray will make diagnostic tests less scary for young patients at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The book gives step-by-step descriptions of what will happen when children go for tests like an Ultrasound, CT or MRI Scans as well as an X-Ray.
It is now being used in the Hospital’s Radiology department along with Rudham Children’s Ward, Roxburgh Children’s Centre and the Emergency Department.
Sally (33), who has worked at the Hospital since she was 16, said: “I am really pleased with how the book has turned out and I hope that it takes away some of the anxiety for children when they come to radiology for tests.
“Generally children attend Radiology when they are either in pain or feeling unwell so the large machines and their flashing lights can be frightening. We have had some children who have found it quite upsetting.”
Sally created the book as one of her final assignments for the Health Studies Foundation Degree, which was funded by the Hospital as part of the Grow Your Own programme to develop existing staff.
She felt it was important to use a real child rather than an illustration and asked her son Oli to be the model.
Sally said: “If you see a real child as opposed to an illustration, it makes more relatable. Oli really enjoyed taking part.
“I am also pleased with the storyboard style format as it makes it easy for all children to understand.”
The book also contains QR codes which will take parents and youngsters directly to websites which will be able to provide more information on the procedures.
An electronic version of the book will also be available on the Hospital’s website.
Sally Nederpel is pictured with her book Arthur Has An X-Ray
The press release and picture can be downloaded from here