Key Points
- New Arrival at Ealing Hospital: Tilly, a four-year-old Cavapoo, has officially started visiting patients and NHS staff members at Ealing Hospital.
- Qualified Therapy Animal: Tilly successfully completed a formal Pets as Therapy (PAT) training course prior to being permitted on the hospital premises.
- Consultant-Led Initiative: The initiative was spearheaded by Tilly’s owner, Sajini Wijetilleka, an acute medical unit consultant at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.
- Inspired by Past Experience: Ms Wijetilleka introduced Tilly after observing the positive impact bi-weekly therapy dog visits had on patients in her previous role.
- Family Tradition: Tilly is following in the footsteps of her mother, Roo, who is also a fully qualified Pets as Therapy dog.
- Future Expansion: Ms Wijetilleka aims to extend these therapeutic visits to both Ealing Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital.
- Social Media Presence: Patients and members of the public can track Tilly’s activities via her dedicated Instagram account, @doctortilly.
uk/local/ealing/">Ealing (West London Times) October 12, 2026 –A four-year-old Cavapoo named Tilly has officially begun making regular visits to patients and healthcare staff across Ealing Hospital following her formal qualification as a Pets as Therapy (PAT) animal. The canine visitor is being brought into the hospital facilities—managed by the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust—by her owner, Sajini Wijetilleka, who serves as an acute medical unit consultant within the trust.
Why Was Tilly Introduced to the NHS Trust Facilities?
The decision to introduce Tilly to the ward environment stems directly from Ms Wijetilleka’s prior clinical experiences. Having observed the tangible benefits that animal-assisted interactions provided to individuals during her previous employment, the consultant sought to establish a similar programme within her current workplace. As stated by Sajini Wijetilleka, acute medical unit consultant at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust,
“She loves coming into hospital and patients really enjoy interacting with her.”
What Steps Were Required Before Tilly Could Enter the Hospital?
Before being granted access to the clinical space, Tilly was required to complete a formal training course administered by the Pets as Therapy organisation. This certification process ensures that animals possess the necessary temperament, discipline, and stability required to navigate busy healthcare environments safely. Outlining the motivation behind the initiative, Sajini Wijetilleka explained that
“We used to have bi-weekly visits by PAT dogs in my previous job and people loved it. I decided once I had a dog it would be nice to bring them into Ealing and Northwick Park.”
What Is Tilly’s Family Background in Therapy Work?
Tilly’s progression into animal-assisted therapy follows an established family lineage. Her mother, Roo, is likewise a certified Pets as Therapy dog, marking this appointment as a continuation of a family tradition in therapy work.
In addition to her physical presence on the hospital wards, Tilly’s activities and interactions across the healthcare trust are being documented online through her dedicated Instagram account, bearing the handle @doctortilly.
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Background of the Development
Pets as Therapy (PAT) is an established national charity within the United Kingdom that assesses and accredits pets to provide companionship and comfort in a variety of community settings, including residential care homes, hospices, schools, and National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. Within acute hospital environments, therapy animals are systematically integrated to help reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and offer a comforting distraction for individuals undergoing medical treatment or prolonged inpatient stays.
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust oversees several major hospital sites in West London, including Ealing Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital. Hospital environments often present high-stress conditions for both admitted patients and medical personnel.
The formal introduction of accredited therapy animals into acute units represents an ongoing trend across NHS trusts to incorporate non-clinical, evidence-backed wellbeing initiatives alongside standard patient care protocols.
Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Patients and NHS Healthcare Staff?
The introduction of Tilly as a certified therapy dog at Ealing Hospital is expected to impact both patient recovery experiences and staff wellbeing within the acute medical unit and surrounding wards.
- Anxiety and Stress Reduction: For acute inpatient populations, interactions with an accredited therapy animal can help lower elevated stress levels and reduce anxiety associated with hospitalisation, clinical procedures, and medical stays.
- Enhanced Emotional Comfort: Regular contact with animals provides a familiar, non-clinical source of comfort, which can improve overall mood and foster a more positive care environment during recovery.
- Workplace Wellbeing: Medical professionals operating in acute hospital settings frequently encounter high-pressure conditions. Scheduled interactions with a therapy dog offer short, effective mental breaks, supporting overall morale and reducing workplace fatigue.
- Strengthened Team Cohesion: The presence of a shared therapy animal across departments can foster enhanced communication and a sense of community among healthcare teams across the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.
- Expansion to Additional Sites: As Ms Wijetilleka indicated an intention to bring therapy visits to both Ealing Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital, successful integration at Ealing may serve as a model for expanding routine PAT visits across other hospitals within the trust.
