Serious acute or chronic illnesses fundamentally change life. Affected families have to deal with many new challenges, a completely different everyday life, medical language and feelings of fear and threat.

The task of the psychosocial team is to support and accompany patients and their families during treatment and aftercare.

The illness, the treatment and its consequences lead to severe stress for patients and their environment (parents, siblings, friends, family) and suddenly change their entire lives. The aim of psychological counselling is to support patients and their families in dealing with the challenges of illness and treatment. The service is tailored to the individual needs of the families affected and covers the time of diagnosis, the initial phase, the treatment phase and aftercare.

Staying in hospital can sometimes be quite boring. Patients and parents reach their limits, especially during long hospital stays. Through various play and activity programmes, the educational support team tries to offer children and young people a distraction from their stay in hospital, to forget the daily routine and to put a smile on their faces. This may be in our playroom or as part of one-to-one care in the patient's room. Our playroom is a place where children can get to know each other and no medical procedures are allowed. Of course, the educational support team also organises seasonal events and parties on the ward.

For our long-term patients, hospitalisation brings with it many challenges. The familiar everyday life, security and familiar surroundings are missing. Educational support offers distraction, structure and guidance, can provide space to release anger and resentment about the illness, promote the child's development, strengthen the child's self-confidence and support and relieve the parents.

A broad repertoire of play materials and creative activities is available for this purpose. Educational support is tailored to the individual needs of the patient and their age. There is something for young and old. Of course, seasonal events and celebrations are also organised.

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us is NOTHING compared to what lies WITHIN us....!"

For some, creative freedom is an outlet where they can let off steam. For others, it's a form of processing, switching off, unwinding, taking a fantasy journey, relaxation, activity, integration, exchange, encouragement or simply playful experimentation with new techniques in the sea of endless possibilities! There are countless creative activities, whether wet-on-wet techniques, watercolours, acrylics, guache, watercolours, chalks, kneading and much more, which can be tried out in the small clinic studio on KK3. There is sure to be something for everyone!

The offer is available to patients on KK3, KK6, KK7 and can be used in the studio, in the patient's room, in bed or depending on the situation.

Music, rhythm and sound have accompanied our lives from the very beginning. Their effects are manifold: they can activate us physically, but also calm us down. It influences our emotions and our mood and enables direct access to feelings that cannot always be expressed in words. Because music triggers so many different reactions in us, it can be used therapeutically. Music therapy enables children to express frequently suppressed feelings such as fear, sadness or anger without words. Stress is reduced and, last but not least, the encounter offers a distraction from everyday hospital life.

In hospital, music therapy can be carried out at the bedside, individually or in small groups. Children and, if they wish, their families can improvise on easy-to-play musical instruments and experience moments of relaxation, fun, pride and joy together.

Being ill is like a storm at sea. Many things are shaken up - externally and internally. Questions about meaning are raised and about what gives support and strength in unsettling times. Pastoral care provides a space for these questions and thoughts. We accompany patients' children and their families. We have time to listen and talk, for stories and creative activities, for singing and praying. We celebrate the festivals of the church year with the children in everyday hospital life.

The hospital chaplaincy services are open to everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs.

A child's illness and hospitalisation have a drastic effect on the whole family. This can give rise to questions on which the social counselling service is happy to provide information and advice. Our aim is to work with patients and their families to develop individualised help for their personal situation. Against the background of the child's illness, in addition to medical and nursing treatment, we provide counselling on topics such as

• socio-legal aspects
• Care after discharge
• rehabilitation
• Psychosocial and everyday concerns
• Referral to counselling centres, self-help groups, etc.

Every child has a right to education. The lessons at the paediatric clinic aim to convey a sense of normality despite the illness. In consultation with the medical and therapeutic staff, we teach pupils of all school types. Through suitable educational measures, we want to create the conditions for learning with joy and success. The scope and content of the lessons are based on the question: What is important for the pupil and what is possible? We teach the subjects German, English and maths. In addition, class tests and final examinations can be taken in close co-operation with the home school.

The Hans-Lebrecht-Schule, Special Education and Counselling Centre (SBBZ) for pupils undergoing long-term hospital treatment, sees itself as a bridge between the sick children and young people, their parents' home, the clinic and their home school. We help with applications for home schooling and are a point of contact and counsellor for school-related questions.