Teddy bears to teach children about paw health

Cuddly toys and their owners, young and old, are invited to receive a special health check at the University’s free family fun day marking the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service.

The University is inviting everyone to join them and the local NHS Trusts on Saturday 7 July from 11.00am-3.00pm. The University of Leicester campus will be alive with music performances, science experiments, children’s activities and more – all showcasing the work and achievements of the NHS.

Members of the public can discover what more they can do to look after their health and wellbeing with talks about nutrition, school readiness and child health from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), diabetes checks from the Leicester Diabetes Centre, meet the emergency services and look inside their vehicles, and doctors and experts from Paediatrics and the Children’s Hospital on hand to answer questions. Children can build their confidence with doctor’s visits by bringing their favourite stuffed toys for a mini-health check by medical students at the Teddy Bears Clinic – and perhaps have one themselves.

Everyone can boost their skills with defibrillator training by Leicester University Community First Responders, Paediatric first aid demonstrations from LPT, CPR training from HeartWize, juicing and smoothie demonstrations from Together Against Cancer, and relaxation and well-being in children workshops from the Wellbeing Crew.

All this with entertainment for all ages, including music from STARS Youth Choir, Look-a-lady Ukulele, Irish dancing, science demonstrations, bouncy castles, arts and crafts, and Alice in Wonderland characters in attendance.

Local Leicester charities will also be represented, including Rainbows Children's Hospice, Children's Cancer Leukemia Group, Leicester Hospitals Charity Children's appeal, LPT’s Raising Health charity, Way of the Horse Therapeutic Centre, LAMP (Leicester Action for Mental Health Project) and Leicester Marrow Society.

With today’s clinicians working both at bedside and at the benchside with academics at the cutting edge of medical science, all while teaching the doctors of the future, the University of Leicester aims to show that the vital relationship between universities and public health is closer than ever.

Professor Philip Baker, Head of the College of Life Sciences at the University, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the 70th birthday of the NHS, in partnership with our local NHS partners. The University of Leicester has a long history of working with a broad range of healthcare practitioners across the City and County. We have trained thousands of doctors and are now extending our educational endeavour to training nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and operating department practitioners. In synergy with the NHS, our researchers are world-leading in addressing a range of different clinical problems, from diabetes to asthma, and from cancer to heart disease. Join us as we celebrate the wonderful institution that is the National Health Service.”

Entry is free, but visitors will be asked to donate towards the two local NHS charities Raising Health and Leicester Hospitals Charity.

• For more information, please contact Dr Danni Benyon-Payne, dmrbp1@le.ac.uk
• Press release