The ‘Kitten Scanner’ easing children’s fears in Cornwall

A chicken, an elephant and a crocodile have arrived at Royal Cornwall Hospitals, and they are helping some of the youngest patients face one of the more daunting parts of a hospital visit.

Children coming in for MRI and CT scans now have a new way to understand what is about to happen, thanks to a charity-funded “Kitten Scanner” designed to take some of the fear out of the experience.

A scanner sized for toys

The Kitten Scanner is a preparation resource funded by Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity at a cost of £18,000. It is aimed at children aged four to seven and comes with three character toys, a chicken, an elephant and a crocodile.

Children place the characters into a miniature scanner to explore what will happen before their own procedure. A built-in screen plays an animation that introduces the sounds and the process in a way young patients can follow.

The idea is to let Play Specialists show how scanning works through play, so that both children and their parents feel more informed and reassured before the appointment.

Calmer children, fewer anaesthetics

The benefits go beyond a better experience. Keeping children calm and still during a scan can reduce the need for a general anaesthetic, and each avoided case saves around £1,000.

There are direct benefits for the children too. Avoiding a general anaesthetic reduces potential side effects and risks, shortens recovery time, and gets them back to normal activities sooner.

“Play is how children understand the world”

Deborah Charles, Play Specialist at RCHT, said: “For many young children, hospital scans can feel overwhelming and frightening. The Kitten Scanner gives us a simple but effective way to explain what will happen using play, which is how children best understand the world. We’ve already seen such a positive difference, children feel more relaxed, parents feel reassured, and it helps us carry out scans more smoothly and safely.”

Deborah added: “Importantly, if a child can go through their scan without needing a general anaesthetic, it’s not only better for them, reducing recovery time and avoiding unnecessary risks, but it also allows us to use our resources more efficiently. We’re incredibly grateful to RCHT Charity for making this possible.”

Part of a £60,000 funding round

The Kitten Scanner was funded through the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity Elevate Funding Round, a programme set up to support ideas that make a tangible difference to patient care.

Through the scheme, £60,000 was awarded to departments across the Trust to bring projects like this to life.