Two electrical mini Mercedes will, from now on, be the special means of transport for children operated at Hospital da Luz Lisboa , making their hospital experience more fun and less stressful. The two mini cars were offered by Mercedes-Benz C. Santos VP dealer and will ‘drive’ the younger patients at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, from their internment room to the surgery room in the operating service. During that route, where they will always be accompanied by their parents and hospital professionals, the children enjoy a playful and fun moment , helping to alleviate the stress and anxiety associated to a hospital environment and to the idea of surgery. This way, we expect to reduce the tension associated to an environment that is strange to children, leaving them less apprehensive with the approach of the moment of surgery. Clinically, the benefits of this kind of initiatives are also important, since the distraction and relaxation of the children end up by assuming a role of «non-therapeutic premedication», as specialists say, allowing to reduce the need of drugs and enabling a shorter awakening after surgery. In fact, as stated by Pedro Líbano Monteiro, executive director of Hospital da Luz Lisboa , «there is evidence that children, in hospital and surgery environment, feel increased levels of stress». Therefore, «the introduction of this playful component reduces even the parents’ anxiety and contributes to a faster recovery of the children». For C. Santos VP representatives, this offer to Hospital da Luz Lisboa is a natural consequence of the already existing partnership with Grupo Luz Saúde, and is part of the programs of social responsibility of the company. « Make children happier and improve the hospital experience of these sick boys and girls and their families is our main goal with this initiative», concludes Filipa Teixeira, C. Santos VP director of marketing .
