The James Cook University Hospital is set to open a new emergency department for children and young people.

Work has already started on the purpose-built facility which will be situated next to the Middlesbrough hospitals main emergency department with its own separate entrance.

Existing hospital space is being repurposed and transformed to create the children and young peoples emergency department thanks to national investment in emergency care facilities.

The department will provide a number of specialist facilities including:

Separate waiting areas for different age groups

Dedicated observation, treatment and resuscitation rooms

Mental health assessment room

Sensory room

Breastfeeding room

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is aiming to open the children and young peoples emergency department, which is only the second of its kind in the north east, by the end of April 2021.

The new facility will provide emergency care to more than 25,000 patients a year covering all age ranges from neonates up to 18 years.

Currently these young patients are treated in separate areas within the main emergency department, but from the end of April they will benefit from having their own dedicated facility.

Everything from the wall artwork to patient meals will be designed with children and young people in mind with families invited to contribute feedback and ideas via the trusts internet site and social media channels.

Charitable funds are being used to provide those little extras over and above what the NHS can provide with local businesses and community groups encouraged to donate soft furnishings, toys, iPads and sensory room equipment and lighting.

Emergency department service manager Julie Suckling said: This redevelopment will enable us to create patient-centred spaces, designed to deliver world-class care for some of our regions most seriously ill children and young people.

We aim to deliver leading edge care in a modern and welcoming environment to make sure each patients journey through the department is as comfortable and as positive an experience as possible.

To pledge your support and help create the best environment for our children and young people visit southtees.nhs.uk/charity or contact Ben Murphy, head of South Tees Hospitals Charity at benmurphy@nhs.net or 07799 132808.