We were absolutely delighted to take part in Cornwall’s first-ever paediatric “super-clinic” at Paradise Park’s Jungle Barn, an innovative initiative led by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust to make healthcare appointments more relaxed, supportive and enjoyable for young patients and their families.
We brought our Mobile Dental Unit (MDU) on site, supporting the clinic with accessible, child-friendly oral health care right in the heart of the play centre. With our team set up alongside other health and wellbeing services, families were able to receive joined-up advice in a fun, engaging environment — often between trips down the slides!
Thanks to our dedicated colleagues, we were able to offer a significant level of support, including:
- Dental assessments for 6 children on our mobile dental unit taken from the NHS waiting list who were also under the ENT (ears, nose, throat) specialist
- Oral health engagement with 56 children and their families including distribution of oral health packs. These packs included toothbrushes, toothpaste, resources and guidance to help families continue good oral health habits at home.
Children attending the clinic received personalised “party invitations” for their appointment slots, with the Jungle Barn open exclusively for the event. The party rooms became consulting rooms, while the community village offered everything from wellbeing support to healthy-eating demonstrations.
For many families, this meant a healthcare visit that felt less daunting and more like a day out.
Ali, our Service Manager, reflected on the success of the day:
“It was fantastic to be part of such a creative and positive approach to paediatric healthcare. We know that early, friendly interactions with dental professionals can shape how children feel about oral health for years to come. Being able to provide assessments, education and support in the Jungle Barn was brilliant. Families were relaxed, children were happy, and the collaboration across all partners made a real impact.”— Alison Cane, Service Manager, Smile Together
We’re proud to have taken part in this innovative event and to stand alongside our NHS and community partners in re-imagining what supportive, family-centred healthcare can look like. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from staff and families reinforces what a meaningful difference this approach can make.
A huge thank you to Paradise Park, RCHT and all our colleagues who contributed to such a memorable day. Together, we are helping create healthcare experiences that feel accessible, welcoming — and even fun — for children and their families.
