Parents have been praising the “small but mighty” Play Team at Walsall Manor Hospital after it scooped a national award.

The Ward 21 Play Team was named Health Play Team of the Year 2026 in the Starlight Health Play Awards, announced earlier this week.

Starlight, the UK’s leading charity for children’s play in healthcare, holds the awards to celebrate Play in Healthcare Week (5-9 October 2026) and to shine a spotlight on how play can reduce fear, pain and trauma during a child’s treatment and recovery from illness and celebrate those who are excelling in this field.

The team, which includes Health Play Specialist (HPS) Emma Lester and Play Facilitator Toni Harris, who is currently training to become an HPS, was praised by colleagues for embedding play as a core part of children’s care rather than simply an activity to pass the time. And parents are also full if praise about the difference the team makes.

Zoe Payne’s sons Logan, four and Leo, two, have both been treated on the ward.

She said: “The team have helped both boys when they’ve been poorly.

“With Logan they helped him choose a new toy from the cupboard and spent time with him to take his mind off everything else going on and when Leo needed to be in a side room for his care they made sure they brought things to him and spent time with him.”

Lauren Rickhuss, who has been advised daughter Ellarae, three, may have epilepsy said the team was also there for parents.

“It’s a lot to get your head round as a parent to be told your child might have a condition and Toni made sure she spent time explaining things to me, giving me a chance to ask questions. They do a great job with children but also know how to help parents as well,” she said.

The team was nominated by two Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust colleagues, Milena Sirakova Consultant Community Paediatrician and Garry Perry, Associate Director of Patient Voice.

They received their award on Monday 5 October and both said they were “overwhelmed” at hearing all the positive feedback.

Among the team’s highlights are the introduction of a structured Eat, Drink, Move to Improve programme which includes creative and physical activities designed to encourage children to get out of bed, move, socialise, and maintain some of the routines of everyday life while in hospital.

The team also supported an autistic child who had been unable to walk to Theatre for dental treatment because he was so anxious. Rather than simply trying again on another day, the team arranged for him to return beforehand and used his interest in Pokémon to talk him through the process step by step.

Emma said: “When his next appointment came round, he sailed through it.”

For those struggling to take medicine through a syringe, they have used flavoured drinks to help familiarisation and desensitisation. During blood tests and cannulation, they use games and children’s interests as distraction to help reduce fear and anxiety.

Cathy Gilman, Starlight’s CEO, presented the award.

She said: “You are really making a difference to children’s experience of healthcare. And there’s only two of you – you are small but mighty!”

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s charity Well Wishers works closely with the team helping with refurbishments such as the playroom, sensory room, and the newly created quiet area. The charity also supports events throughout the year including Play in Healthcare Week, a Christmas extravaganza and Easter activities – sourcing funding and support from local businesses and the community.