Coming into hospital for an operation can be scary, particularly for some of our younger patients.

We recognise how important it is to make their stay as comfortable and stress-free as possible, so we have partnered with Little Journey to implement the ‘Little Journey’ app.

The ‘Little Journey’ platform psychologically prepares, informs and supports children and families before, during and after healthcare procedures, all from the comfort and safety of their own home.

The app has many functions, including virtual tours of the Children’s Ward, theatres and recovery areas for children to watch before they come in for an operation, guidance for parents about fasting and surgical procedures, interactive games for children that can be played with one hand (so they can play whilst having a canula fitted) and relaxation and breathing animations to help calm a child before their operation.

The app is bespoke to Great Western Hospital, and the goal is that the app will help to reduce on-the-day cancellations and unplanned admissions, as well as greatly improving the patient experience by reducing anxiety.

The ‘Little Journey’ app is also designed to support children with additional needs, such as autism or ADHD, and can be translated into 16 different languages – making it fully inclusive for all users.

Download the app

Children being booked in for surgery will be provided with a QR code on their booking letter to take them directly to the app.

You can also download the app through any app store on a mobile device; simply search for ‘The Little Journey App’ and select Great Western Hospitals.