Region Gävleborg has announced the introduction of a specially trained hospital dog to assist children during medical procedures. According to an official announcement from the region, the dog will begin working at the end of March 2026 and will visit Gävle Hospital and Hudiksvall Hospital every other week.
The hospital dog is designed to provide support when children experience anxiety or fear before examinations and treatments. The specially trained dog works alongside its handler to offer comfort and security during difficult medical procedures.
The dog can provide comfort, security, and motivation for children facing difficult procedures, such as blood tests or examinations requiring stillness.
Hanna Hedenström, care unit manager within pediatric care, explained the benefits: "A dog can give the child comfort, security and motivation to cope with difficult treatments. Many children find healthcare can feel uncomfortable, for example during blood tests or examinations where you have to lie still. The dog can help the child feel safer."
Region councilor Jennie Forsblom (KD) views the initiative as an important step in the development of pediatric care. "For many children, a hospital visit can be both frightening and stressful. A hospital dog can make a big difference by creating security and calm in a difficult situation," Forsblom stated.
The initiative as an important step in developing pediatric care, noting that hospital visits can be frightening and stressful for many children, and a hospital dog can make a significant difference by creating security and calm.
The program aims to help more children complete examinations without sedative medications. According to Hedenström, if children feel more secure, it may reduce the need for sedative medications and potentially shorten care time for patients.
Research from Akademiska Children's Hospital shows that meetings with a hospital dog can reduce stress and increase well-being in hospitalized children; in a study of 60 children, 93 percent felt better after meeting the dog.