Children's emergency department designed by pupils opens at Poole Hospital
A new children's emergency department has opened at Poole Hospital.
It has been designed by pupils from Longfleet Road Primary School.
The idea was to make the new department child-friendly and welcoming for young patients coming in, calling upon the pupils to submit ideas on how to accomplish this.
Every year, 18,000 children are treated at Poole hospital's emergency department.
Until now, that meant children were being treated in the same area as adults.
As well as new facilities, the department will also be staffed by three new children's nurses.
WATCH: What ideas did the pupils come up with?
Staff at the emergency department believe the new area will make young patients feel more comfortable and themselves in a child-friendly environment, allowing doctors to more easily make a diagnosis and provide treatment.
Despite controversial plans to close Poole's emergency department and move services to Bournemouth within the next five years, the hospital says this unit will survive as part of the new Urgent Treatment Centre.
Watch Richard Slee's report below