Making friends

Teenagers Hospital might not be the first place you would go to make new friends, but for many young people that is what happens.

Some kids become best mates over the course of their treatment at our Children's Hospital.

You might meet someone who has the same condition as you. If your illness makes you feel lonely at times, then that can be really helpful.

Or you might simply find yourself hanging out with people you like a lot. (In hospital, there can be plenty of time for hanging out.)

You will be with other children on the wards or while you wait in outpatients.

There are other ways of making friends too:

  • The playground (on the ground floor by the Play Centre) is open all day and there are usually kids around looking for someone to play with. Make sure you take a grown-up with you

  • The Play Centre is open to anyone between 1.00pm and 4.00pm. Most days there are organised activities like cookery, music and painting

  • There is a youth club that meets on a Tuesday for both outpatients and inpatients aged ten or above. Ask at the Play Centre for details

  • Sometimes we hold movie nights - your ward nurses will let you know if we have one on

And remember, being in hospital doesn't mean losing touch with your friends from home. They are welcome to visit you during your stay and keep you up to date with the news from home.