A children's hospital in Scotland has made history after hiring a "gamer-in-residence," marking the first of its kind in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Steven Mair, 26, has been hired as the first Gamer-in-Residence at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Mair is filling a full-time role where he is tasked with playing games with patients at the hospital or give them hand-to-help chats.
Moreover, Mair is also responsible for organizing gaming events at the Royal Hospital, fundraising for new gaming equipment, and overseeing all individuals who sign up as gaming volunteers for the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, as reported by EnGadget.
Who Made the Gamer-In-Residence Program Possible?
Mair was hired after the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity successfully raised over £100,000 (approximately $129,140) in 2023 through the Games for the Weans campaign.
Part of the program saw the hospital hold a sale of Scottish games on Steam. It also allowed Twitch creators to fundraise for the event through charity streams and sponsored gaming marathons.
The funding from the campaign not only allows Mair to play with the patients, it also gives the hospital money needed to replace older Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles with gaming systems that are "hospital-adapted."
"Not only will your support fund more consoles and games for the children's hospital, but it now also means Scotland's young patients will always have a Player Two," Kirsten Watson, CEO at Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, said in a statement.
How Does Gaming Help Pediatric Patients?
Several studies have shown that gaming can benefit pediatric hospital patients by helping manage their pain and decreasing their anxiety during medical procedures. This reduces the need for sedation.
Gaming also allows patients to connect with their peers, both within and outside the hospital, through online platforms. Multiplayer games, especially, provide patients the opportunity to collaborate and form friendships with other people during their stay at the hospital. This reduces feelings of boredom, loneliness, and isolation, per Mott Children.
Furthermore, games can help provide pediatric patients with emotional support by offering them a sense of escapism. This "escape" lets them cope with the emotional challenges of hospitalization and distracts them from their medical conditions.
