Hi. I have Muppet who is now 6 1/2 and has been a PAT dog for 4 1/2 year now.
We do two visits, one to the RUH in Bath where the children are really quite well. Most of the treatment is elective, trauma or some long term oncology so they interact and play with Muppet for a couple of hours. I must say she loves it, and I do genuinely mean that. She is desperate to get in there amongst all the kids (and parents, and nurses and cleaners!). She is dressed up, had stickers stuck on her, has ears plaited, used as part of their treatment and hugged and tugged and is fine.
The other visit we used to do was Frenchay where the kids were really quite sick, alot of neuro, heavy trauma, burns etc and this was tiring. Not hard work as such but very intense. I swear that dog has a 6th sense, she knows the difference between the well kids and the sick kids. As with all PAT dogs it is temperament but with the sick kids she is extra special and calm. We were normally in there for a couple of hours at a time and that was tiring but so rewarding.
It is so simple and yet so effective and we will continue to do at as long as Muppet is happy, the moment she has had enough we will stop.
Good luck with your assessment, shout if you want any help or advice with your application.