Gamer role introduced in children’s hospital

A Scottish children’s hospital charity has introduced a gamer in residence for young patients in Glasgow.

The new job involves visiting children to play video games with them, preventing boredom and providing some light relief.

Steven Mairs, who was appointed by the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, says gaming has already provided huge benefits to the patients.

He said that playing Mario Kart has improved the mobility of a patient’s hand and that it was also a useful tool in distracting the children during medical procedures.

“One of my first sessions here at the hospital was a patient who was on a plasma exchange and that can be quite intrusive”, he added.

“When I went in to play with that patient, it kept him distracted throughout the whole procedure.”

Josephine, the mum of eight-year-old Laura Jayne, said her daughter had been in hospital for six months.

She said: “It’s been really good just to pass the time. Sometimes it helps her to interact with the gamers. She really gets a lot out of it.”