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Therapeutic Play and Children’s Healthcare
06 January 2026
Lead MP
Calvin Bailey
Leyton and Wanstead
Lab
Responding Minister
Ashley Dalton
Tags
NHSEmployment
Word Count: 4426
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Calvin Bailey raised concerns about therapeutic play and children’s healthcare in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Mr Bailey calls for the Government to include health play professionals in the NHS workforce plan and make them a registered allied health profession. He also seeks assurances on how to sustain therapeutic play services, especially in light of cuts affecting adoption and special guardianship support funds.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Mr Calvin Bailey highlights the importance of therapeutic play in children's healthcare, citing his constituent Sarah Owen whose son Hari was diagnosed with leukaemia at age four. The story illustrates how a health play specialist helped Hari engage more positively with hospital treatments through playful activities. However, it also points out that such care is not always consistent and can be undermined by funding shortfalls and lack of support from medical staff.
Adam Dance
LD
Yeovil
Raises concerns about cuts to play therapy services in Yeovil and the ethical issues surrounding sustainable funding models for these services.
Alex Easton
Ind
North Down
Argues for the integration of therapeutic play into daily care routines rather than treating it in isolation, highlighting its effectiveness when embedded within healthcare teams.
Hitchin
Strathern supports the debate and shares his personal experience of working with play therapists at his local hospital, highlighting their transformative impact on outcomes for young people and families. He calls for therapeutic play services to be available to every child regardless of where they live.
Ashley Dalton
Con
Stroud
Discussed the inclusion of play specialists in multidisciplinary teams, highlighted the use of Play Well kit and the requirement for NHS providers to consider children's needs.
Simon Opher
Lab
Stroud
Adventure play is good for kids, reducing anxiety and improving community cohesion; therapeutic play must be part of GP training to reduce trauma and improve procedure times.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Healthcare should be fully accessible for children, with medical staff having the skills and knowledge to support them; an update on Government progress in evaluating therapeutic approaches would be appreciated.
Jen Craft
Not Provided
Constituency Not Provided
Funding has been withdrawn for my constituent's level 7 apprenticeship in play therapy; if the Government wants to see the savings related to therapeutic play, they need to invest upfront. Craft shares a personal story about her daughter's in-patient stay, emphasizing the positive impact of Starlight play therapy. She asks how such services can be rolled out across the country to ensure every child benefits.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Points out that the Ulster hospital near his constituency has communal areas for children, advocating that such provisions should not rely on charitable donations but be part of NHS funding.
Richard Quigley
Lab
Isle of Wight West
Emphasises that effective play within children’s healthcare can lead to happier patients, smoother procedures, and reduced costs for the NHS.
Sarah Olney
LD
Richmond Park
The tier 4 review should consider two important reports that found therapeutic input improves patient outcomes for adults with complex mental health difficulties.
Tom Hayes
Con
Leyton and Wanstead
Suggests that play professionals need proper support and should be included in the NHS workforce plan as a registered allied health profession. Asked if health play professionals should be included in the NHS workforce plan.
Uma Kumaran
Lab
Stratford and Bow
My constituent's level 7 play therapy apprenticeship funding was withdrawn, highlighting the need for accessible training options for play therapy.
Government Response
Ashley Dalton
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Government Response
Dalton acknowledges the importance of therapeutic play in paediatric care, noting the NHS England and Starlight Play Well toolkit's role in providing national guidelines. He commits to promoting the toolkit across various healthcare settings and looks forward to collaborating with Starlight to further support children like Hari. Additionally, he outlines government initiatives aimed at improving mental health support for young people and reducing child poverty.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.