Macclesfield ED Sister authors AI-illustrated children’s book to comfort young patients

An Emergency Department (ED) Sister at Macclesfield District General Hospital has authored a children’s book designed to ease hospital anxiety for young patients.

Leo the Lion was created by Donna Rees, an Emergency Department Sister and Training Facilitator at East Cheshire NHS Trust.

Donna, who is also celebrating 25 years of service with the Trust and successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro last autumn to raise funds for the department, created the book after noticing that children in waiting areas often became restless and anxious during busy winter periods.

The story follows a young lion who discovers that it is completely natural to feel frightened when visiting the hospital and incorporates the real-world names of the Macclesfield ED nursing staff into the text so young patients can connect the story to the team treating them.

To make the book comforting and relatable, Donna used AI imaging software to create the illustrations, with the compact A5-sized booklet also featuring custom colouring sections and word puzzles to keep patients up to the age of 15 engaged.

She said: "I spend a lot of time in the children’s ED, and during the peak winter months, it became clear that the children needed a distraction.

“Coming to a hospital can be scary, so I wanted to create something practical to help them relax.

“Lions are traditionally viewed as brave, but our main character, Leo, gets scared too. Showing children that even a lion can feel frightened helps validate their feelings while gently preparing them for what to expect during their care."

The project has been delivered thanks to a partnership with Community Safety Education, a regional non-profit organisation led by Callum Smith.

The non-profit managed corporate sponsorships, printing, and logistics to supply the books directly to the hospital completely free of charge.

Following the success of the first print run, Donna is already drafting a second book in the series for returning patients. Early discussions are also underway to explore adapting the concept into specialised versions to support adult patients with dementia, autism, or learning disabilities.

ENDS