Laughter truly is best medicine

Oct 18 2007 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

CLOWNING around was the order of the day at a special first birthday party for the Clown Doctors.

As the old adage goes, laughter is the best medicine and for the past year the team has been providing laughter and therapeutic play to seriously ill children and young people across the North-East.

With the help of health care staff, the visitors have been brightening the wards and bringing fun and smiles to those children who need it most.

Martin Wilson, director of TIN Arts, which manages the Clown Doctors programme, said: “The Clown Doctors programme has presented us with a unique opportunity to make a large difference to young lives through the smallest of actions.”

The Clown Doctors were yesterday able to hear an evaluation report from Durham University which underpinned the work carried out during the past year.

Among its findings were health care staff describing the programme as motivating, stimulating and empowering for children and young people, with expectations on the ward being met.

The party took place yesterday at the college of St Hild and St Bede, in Durham.