A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy from Brechin yesterday graphically showed what children experience when they are seriously ill in hospital, writes Marjory Inglis, health reporter.

Jack Wood was one of a number of children chosen to meet Scottish Public Health Minister Shona Robison when she visited Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

All of the children had been or were still patients in the children’s ward at the hospital and were invited to join the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS by drawing posters for display in the hospital.

Little Jack has just spent 13 days recovering from complications following an operation to remove his appendix.

Mum Sally said the Andover Primary School pupil had seen everyone else getting out of hospital while he was left behind feeling very, very ill.

Margaret Deuchars, hospital play co-ordinator, said it was only when Jack was asked to draw a picture for the anniversary, and he depicted a patient lying under an X-ray machine with staff in attendance, that he was able to speak about his fears and worries in hospital.

Mrs Deuchars said drawing pictures was a way that her team regularly used to get children to express feelings they could not otherwise put into words.

“Jack’s picture was amazing,” said Mrs Deuchars.

“He was able to tell us how he felt. It was hard for him. He was frightened and he didn’t know if he was going to get better because at the time he felt so ill.”

Jack is now back home doing fine.

Ms Robison also met six-year-old Rhys Sutherland from Broughty Ferry, who drew a picture of several nurses he said were “fantastic” when he was in hospital being treated for asthma.

Ms Robison also officially opened the new fresh air garden adjacent to the entrance of Ninewells Hospital.

The former fenced off area, used by smokers before the hospital banned smoking in its grounds, has undergone a major landscaping.

In another area of the hospital site Ms Robison viewed a specially-planted NHS at 60 commemorative flower bed, the work of the hospital’s gardening team.