Teddy Hospital visits School

PUPILS at Bendigo’s Girton Grammar Junior School who might experience ‘white coat anxiety’ can now feel a bit more confident following a visit by Monash University’s Teddy Bear Hospital on Monday.Second-year medical students from the university’s School of Rural Health Clayton campus spent a couple of hours with the children to help alleviate any fears they may have about going to a doctor or a hospital – the program’s main aim.

The Teddy Bear Hospital is a not-for-profit program co-ordinated and run by medical students.

Those who visited Girton Grammar have been on placement in Bendigo during the past several weeks, with some experiencing health service delivery in a regional setting for the first time.

As well as the Teddy Bear Hospital, they have spent time at Bendigo Health, Echuca Regional Health and local GP clinics, and have visited a farm.

When the Teddy Bear Hospital visits a school, stations are set up in the classroom that simulate real-life hospital or GP experiences the young children may encounter, providing an opportunity to engage with the ‘Teddy Bear doctors’ – all of whom are student volunteers – in a fun and educational way.

Examples include asthma, X-ray, allergy, emergency and other interactive stations.

The program also encourages things like healthy eating and hygiene in children in the hope they will implement them in their daily lives.

Monday’s activities, which involved Foundation – or Prep – Girton Grammar pupils, were led by medical students Andrew Dyachkov and Leonie Lac.

Administration and events manager for Girton Grammar’s Junior School, Jess Potter, described the afternoon as “fabulous”.

“The students did a wonderful job. They (the pupils) were very much engaged in the whole process; they loved it,” she said.

Ms Potter said it was also an opportunity for the medical students to be involved with young people who might one day be their patients.

“We would highly recommend it,” she said. “It was a fabulous experience for all involved.”