""Doing this at Christmas is particularly important because nobody would want to be in hospital by choice at Christmas," says Penny Pritchard. "I wanted to give something back after my daughter was a patient here when she was a toddler," Ms Pritchard said. "I always say that therapy isn't just for the children, it's for the staff and the carers as well. I see instantly when I walk on to a ward, the mood just lifts.""
""Seeing Otis come up with his antlers in his tinsel, it just makes everyone so happy and joyful," she said. "The atmosphere completely changes. Otis is so happy to see any of us and give us a cuddle. "It's really beneficial for everybody involved: parents, the patients and also the staff. "The ward can be really, really difficult to work on and really busy. Just that having that few minutes of a nice cuddle and a stroke makes everyone feel so much better.""
""When people ask me what does Otis do, I always say his job is to put smiles on faces. "Grace was very happy to have him on the bed and have a little cuddle with him as well. He sat there for probably 20 minutes while she stroked him and had some fun time with him." "I've been in hospital about five weeks," Grace said. "I'm hopefully not in hospital over the Christmas period. "I love to see Otis. [He] makes me feel happy.""
Therapy dog Otis, handled by volunteer Penny Pritchard, visits Great Ormond Street Hospital to comfort children, carers, and staff, especially at Christmas. Pritchard began volunteering after her daughter was a patient and emphasizes that therapy benefits staff and carers as well as children. Children like Grace smile, cuddle Otis, and experience temporary relief and happiness during long stays. Ward manager Andrea McLean reports that Otis's festive appearance lifts the atmosphere, provides brief but meaningful comfort, and helps busy, demanding shifts feel less stressful. The visits support emotional wellbeing for patients, parents, and hospital teams.
Read at www.bbc.com
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