Hospitals
Bring joy to your hospital – register for a PAT visit
Pets As Therapy visits are completely free of charge and offer a wonderful way to brighten the day of patients, staff and visitors alike. If you’d like your hospital to benefit from the comfort and companionship of a friendly PAT visit, simply click the ‘Request a visit’ button below to register your interest.
Why should we have a PAT Pet visit our hospital?
Animals offer comfort in many ways - and more health and social care settings are recognising their value. Today, many hospitals and hospices welcome regular visits from friendly dogs and cats who bring more than just smiles. They bring calm, companionship and connection.
When a PAT Dog or PAT Cat visits a hospital ward, patients often tell us their stress levels drop and their mood lifts. For those missing their own pets at home, it’s a heartwarming experience that brings a sense of familiarity and joy.
Children worried about an operation or treatment find comfort in gently stroking a four-legged friend. This helps to ease any fears and allows parents to relax too.
By registering for a PAT visit, you’re helping to create meaningful moments for people who need them most. Whether it’s a busy ward or a quiet waiting room, the presence of a PAT Pet can make all the difference.
How to register for a PAT visit
All PAT hospital visits are coordinated through Voluntary Services for each NHS Trust. If you're interested in arranging a visit, we recommend you contact your Voluntary Services Team first, as there may already be PAT Volunteers who can visit your ward or department.
If you’d like a PAT Team to visit your hospital or healthcare setting, simply complete our online registration form to get started.
Help us bring more joy to hospitals
Your support helps us to recruit more volunteers and their wonderful pets, calm, friendly dogs and cats who offer comfort to patients and staff in hospitals.
Every visit is a moment of connection, a spark of joy and a gentle reminder that companionship comes in all shapes and sizes.
Together, we can make hospital stays a little brighter - one wag or purr at a time.
