A FRIENDLY four-legged visitor to the children’s unit at the Great Western Hospital is helping some of Swindon’s youngest patients forget about their illness for an hour or two.

Golden retriever Ted, who is aged 10-and-a-half and from Liden, is the latest Pets as Therapy animal to visit the hospital with his fortnightly visits effortlessly bringing beaming smiles to the faces of both patients and staff.

The lovable pooch, who has been specially trained to visit hospital environments, spends anything up to an hour at a time on the ward, giving the children the chance to play, stroke and have fun in the same way they would with a pet at home.

Among the children to be all smiles as Ted and his owner Gill McKinnon visited the hospital today was Joshua Robson.

The seven-year-old from West Swindon said he is excited when Ted comes to the children’s unit.

“It’s fun to see Ted. He’s fluffy and cute,” said the youngster.

Joshua’s mum Samantha added: “I think it’s great for him to come to the ward as most children love animals.”

Meanwhile Ted is also helping Addisyn Cole, ten, battle her extreme phobia of dogs. This week she was brave enough to let Ted sit near her, marking a major milestone in her recovery.

Her mum Lisa, from Chiseldon, was bursting with pride at Addisyn.

“She has never been that close to a dog,” said Lisa. “I think she trusted him because she knows he is being brought to a hospital.

“All her life she would rather jump in front of a moving car instead of passing a dog.

“We went on holiday and there were dogs on all the beaches, even on the ones that they weren’t allowed to be, so we had to come home three days early as she couldn’t control her fear.

“She’s been having cognitive behavioural therapy and is learning mechanisms to overcome her fear of dogs. We have no idea what caused her phobia but she’s had it since she was around three.”

Ted’s visits also come as a benefit to mums, dads and other guardians on the ward who may be feeling stressed, worried or anxious, as animal interaction is well known to have a calming effect on the people around them.

Sarah Merritt, divisional director of nursing for paediatrics and gynaecology, said: “Behind Santa Claus, I think it’s safe to say that Ted is the most popular visitor to the children’s unit.

“He’s a really playful character and it’s easy for us to see the difference having him on the ward makes to the children.

“It’s hard not to feel happy around Ted and when patients are smiling, it can lift their mood and have a really positive effect on their overall recovery.”

Despite being in hospital, play remains a critical part of each child’s recovery programme, with Ted often filling the role of playmate while brothers, sisters and other friends are away at home or school.

Claire Parks, play specialist, said: “To a poorly child, a hospital can be a scary place. But with play, we can make them feel like children again, help them to understand what’s going on and in some cases distract them from what’s going on.”

Pets as Therapy, established in the 1980s, is a national charity which works with health and social care providers to help people of all ages and with varying types of injury and illness benefit from the company and social interaction of a pet. Ted also visits the residents at park view Nursing Home in Blunsdon.