Imagine living in a world where something seemingly as routine as a hospital check-up could be the cause of major upset and anxiety.
This is often the case for children with Down Syndrome and/or other additional needs, who can find even the most straightforward tests and appointments a source of extreme confusion and distress.
In order to help explain what happens in clinic in a way which is fun, colourful and easy to understand, paediatric staff at Hull Royal Infirmary have just completed work on a new animated video in partnership with animation company, Get Animated Medical.
The content has also been shaped by the thoughts and experiences of real children and families living locally with Down Syndrome, thanks to the support of Hull-based charity, Downright Special.
And with World Down Syndrome Day being celebrated this coming Saturday 21 March, the release of “Unseen Buddies Episode 3: Hospital Clinic Appointment” couldn’t be better timed.
Dr Sandhya Jose, consultant in paediatric medicine for NHS Humber Health Partnership explains:
“Children with additional needs or disabilities such as Down Syndrome can find it more difficult to understand what’s happening when they come into hospital. Not only can this be distressing and confusing for the child, but it is also upsetting for their family to see and can make it more difficult for clinical teams to carry out any checks or tests that are needed.
“This latest episode of Unseen Buddies walks viewers through a clinic appointment step-by-step and is now available online so that families can watch it together as often as is needed before their appointment date arrives.
“Being able to provide young people with additional needs with clear information that they can take in in their own time, in their own way, can really help to calm and reassure children. At the same time, it helps us as health professionals to get the best out of the time we spend together in clinic.”
The video is the third in a series of animations developed by Hull hospital staff and Get Animated Medical to help guide young people with additional needs and their families through their healthcare journey. Episode 1 of Unseen Buddies explains what’s involved in an Electroencephalogram (EEG) and was released in April 2025, while Episode 2 is titled ‘Staying Safe with Epilepsy’ and was released in September last year.
In this latest episode, “Hospital Clinic Appointment”, we meet a young boy with Down Syndrome called Leo, and his unseen buddy, a colourful jigsaw character named Jumble.
Jumble accompanies Leo to a hospital check-up, and explains what is happening at every stage, from checking in at reception, to having measurements taken, and not forgetting the opportunity to play with toys in the waiting room! The animation uses comforting narration, comic strip style animation and bright colours to illustrate each step along the way, making it perfect for visual learners.
Dr Jose continues:
“This type of animation has already proven to be very popular and successful in helping us to communicate important health information in a way which is both engaging and easy to understand.
“While we have developed the content with the needs and experiences of local families in mind, the animation is freely available online and is not specific to Hull, so that any child with additional needs may watch it and hopefully find it helpful too.”
Gillian Bowlas, charity manager of Downright Special says:
“Downright Special was delighted to collaborate with paediatric nurse practitioner Kate Woodrow, and paediatric consultant, Dr Lorna Highet, on this resource to prepare children for their hospital appointments.
“We had already worked with the team to create a social story for children with Down Syndrome attending appointments and had great feedback from parents on how it helped to reassure their child before, during and after appointments.
“We are so pleased that our resource and feedback was used as the basis for this new video which is suitable for all children. It will help any child know what to expect, will reduce anxiety and hopefully make the hospital visit a fun and positive experience.”
Chris Kennedy, CEO of Get Animated Medical says:
“The Unseen Buddies project highlights the power of compelling storytelling and animation as a medium to break down barriers and ease anxiety. For children with additional needs, clear and comforting communication can make all the difference. Unseen Buddies brings together creativity, clinical insight and compassion to support families in a way that’s accessible, memorable, and reassuring—and we’re incredibly proud to have been part of it.”
“Unseen Buddies Episode 3: Hospital Clinic Appointment” can be found on the Unseen Buddies YouTube Channel and NHS Humber Health Partnership’s Vimeo channel.