Bear hospital declares Teddies a picture of health in UCC

If you went down to a college yesterday, you’d have been in for a big surprise.

Thu, 16 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Eoin English

For almost every bear there ever was, was gathered at University College Cork (UCC) for a full medical check-up.

It was all part of the annual Teddy Bear Hospital initiative run by the students of UCC’s Medical Society (Med Soc) which aims to ease childrens’ fears about visiting the doctor — a fear the medical community refer to as “white-coat anxiety”.

The teddy bear hospital, which continues today, is based within a clinical setting at UCC’s college of medicine and health and is being run this year in partnership with three primary schools — St John the Baptist school in Midleton, Scoil Mhuire Banrion in Mayfield, and St Catherine’s NS on Model Farm Rd.

Katie Byrne, from Scoil Mhuire Banrion, Mayfield, with Rosie at the Teddy Bear Hospital in UCC.

Young pupils brought their favourite teddies to the hospital where they worked with the medical students to diagnose and treat their teddy bear patients for a range of ailments, from high blood pressure, headaches, sore paws, and torn ears.

The medical students used common medical instruments and medical-style procedure, similar to what any patient could experience during a visit to their GP or an emergency department, during the consultations.

And the good news is most bears were given a clean bill of health.

The few who were a little sick did not have to wait on trolleys, were treated immediately, and were discharged, some with bandages, within a few minutes in the full of their health.

Third-year medical student Edmond Morrissey, who was among the treating doctors yesterday, said he often has to deal with young patients in a hospital or GP setting.

“Many of them are afraid of coming to see the doctor because they don’t know what to expect,” he said.

“The aim of the Teddy Bear Hospital is to introduce children to doctors and healthcare in a friendly environment so that they will be more at ease when visiting the doctor in the future.

“This positive exposure to healthcare helps to build a strong doctor-patient relationship and gives all of the children involved a fun morning out.”

Prof Mary Horgan, the dean of the school of medicine, said the Teddy Bear Hospital demonstrates the importance of engaging with the wider community outside of the medical school’s traditional presence.

“The significance of community outreach, as seen through the Teddy Bear Hospital and other such initiatives, in spreading the message about public health is critically important as it allows UCC to function as an academic healthcare provider in a non-traditional setting. The messages that these primary school children will take from the clinic, creates an affirmative and substantial link between the university, its students’ and healthcare provision.”