The Cardiology Team at Alder Hey are very excited by the arrival of a few bugs in clinic. No, don’t worry, not those kind of bugs. These are buzzing plastic lady-bugs!! These friendly little creatures are designed to help take the pain out of needles. They work by using natural pain relief in the
form of vibration to confuse your nerves and distraction to take your focus away from the needle. Vibration and distraction together help dull or eliminate sharp pain like needles.

Other departments in Alder Hey had tried them out and given how well they were received by patients, The Children’s Heart Association offered to fund three for the cardiology team. So if you are in clinic or on the ward and need a blood test, cannula, finger prick or injection and would like to give Buzzy a try, be sure to ask a member of staff. Be sure to let us know what you think of it.

Jessica Sellars (aged 14) was kind enough to let us take a photograph of her trying Buzzy. She had to have two injections, the first one was a while ago before we got our Ladybugs. When she had her second injection she tried “Buzzy” and said “it felt really cold on her arm but the second injection didn’t hurt as much as the first one”.

If you would like to watch some videos of Buzzy being demonstrated, learn more about it or would like to buy your own, visit the website at www.buzzy4shots.com.