“Doing this at Christmas is particularly important because nobody would want to be in hospital by choice at Christmas,” says Penny Pritchard.
She has been volunteering with therapy dogs at Great Ormond Street Hospital in central London for eight years – first with her dog Hoover and now with labrador Otis.
“I wanted to give something back after my daughter was a patient here when she was a toddler,” Ms Pritchard said.
“I always say that therapy isn’t just for the children, it’s for the staff and the carers as well. I see instantly when I walk on to a ward, the mood just lifts.”
During her rounds, Ms Pritchard and Otis visited Grace, one of the many children at the hospital.
“She instantly had a smile on her face,” Ms Pritchard said. “When people ask me what does Otis do, I always say his job is to put smiles on faces.
“Grace was very happy to have him on the bed and have a little cuddle with him as well. He sat there for probably 20 minutes while she stroked him and had some fun time with him.”
“I’ve been in hospital about five weeks,” Grace said. “I’m hopefully not in hospital over the Christmas period.
“I love to see Otis. [He] makes me feel happy.”
Andrea McLean, manager of the gastroenterology ward, known at the hospital as Squirrel Ward, said Otis brought joy to both staff and patients at Christmas.
“Seeing Otis come up with his antlers in his tinsel, it just makes everyone so happy and joyful,” she said.
“The atmosphere completely changes. Otis is so happy to see any of us and give us a cuddle.
“It’s really beneficial for everybody involved: parents, the patients and also the staff.
“The ward can be really, really difficult to work on and really busy. Just that having that few minutes of a nice cuddle and a stroke makes everyone feel so much better.”
Ms McLean said Otis particularly helped children who were away from home for a long period of time.
“They miss their own pets,” she said. “They are completely out of their routine.
“A lot of the children can’t go out anywhere, so they’re stuck in their rooms.
“At this time of year, all the decorations are up, we’re really trying to make the experience for the children so much nicer.
“A lot of these children won’t be able to go home for Christmas, so we’re really trying to bring that joy.”