Description
Last year, I was introduced to the fantastic work being led by Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) and the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists (APA). Through this collaboration, I learned more about the support being provided to children living with excess weight and obesity, helping them prepare for surgery while encouraging healthier habits that can benefit them long into the future.
One of the people I met was Dr Zoe Burton, who shared a simple but powerful message: “We know that physical activity is a fundamental pillar of both physical and mental health. For all children, but particularly those living with excess weight, increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time can have huge benefits, both now and in the future.”
Inspired by this work, I recently visited Sheffield to meet the team including Dr Sam Black who played a key role in helping develop and drive this collaboration. Together with colleagues from CPOC, the RCoA, APA and Sheffield Children’s, we created a series of short, fun and accessible videos designed to help children and their families feel more confident about getting active and building healthy habits before and after surgery. It's been a brilliant example of what can be achieved when healthcare professionals, patients and organisations come together with a shared goal: helping children become fitter, stronger and healthier for life.