A NEW children’s emergency department has opened at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Bosses say it will increase the number of young patients that can be cared for and play a big part in the retention and recruitment of staff, and it means children no longer have to go into the main emergency department.

Staff recruitment has been a challenge at the hospital, but Chris Tidman, Deputy Chief Officer of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said the new department makes a difference.

Almost £200,000 raised by the Royal Devon Hospitals Charity (RDHC) has funded ocean-themed wall murals and light panels, interactive digital equipment and comfortable seating.

Mr Tidman said: “The staff who have worked in other departments around the country have said it is the best children’s ED [emergency department] area they have ever come across.

“The smile on the face of parents and children who come in here is a massive boost to recruitment without a doubt.”

He said some children and families had not felt safe at the main emergency department, especially late at night.

“It’s a big department. You could have people who were a bit worse for wear, with some quite severe injuries, and like most EDs in the country there are times when we have lots of crowding because we have surges of ambulances, and all of that means it can be a really noisy, chaotic experience for our children.

“This new department has a sense of calm, it feels like a bit of a sanctuary.”

Gavin Best, clinical project manager, said the new space had transformed the way the hospital cares for young people.

He said it was the icing on the cake of an extensive transformation of the emergency department by the trust.

The paediatric assessment unit (PAU) has been relocated next to the new area to provide “seamless” care.

“We are now more equipped to look after children and have more capacity to that. Patients really love the area and parents find it really calming,” Mr Best said.

“There are lots of distractions and play embedded throughout and that really allows our children to play whilst they are being cared for.”

He continued: “It allows the clinicians to use the area like a clinical space, parents can see us and we can see them, it allows us to observe children in the waiting area.”

It was officially opened by 11-year-old Tim Harvey from Cranbrook, who helped launch the fundraising appeal by charity in December 2023.

Born with a number of complex medical conditions, Tim has had more than 150 operations and is a regular visitor to the emergency department with parents Kristy and Ralph. He has raised more than £2,000 towards the appeal.

He said: “The new children’s ED looks amazing and I especially like the games! I can’t believe it looks just like the artists’ posters! The team did a really good job.

“I hope it makes patients like me have an easier time when they come to hospital.”

Alison Stephenson