For these youngsters, the first hour after they arrive at the Emergency Department, often in an ambulance with blue lights flashing, is crucial to their long-term prospects. It is here that their condition is assessed by some of the hospital's most experienced specialists who decide the next stage of their treatment.

The Emergency Department treats youngsters from all over the West Midlands and has to cope with everything from broken toes to severe trauma after major road accidents. Despite its importance and the expertise of its staff, the Emergency Department is currently very much a 'Cinderella' area with dark, cramped waiting areas, worn down decor and inefficient lay-out, all of which means a demoralising experience for its young patients, many of them already frightened or in pain.

The aim is to give the service a major re-design to increase its efficiency. One major element on the wish-list is a parents'room where patients' families would get peace and privacy to talk to doctors and sometimes, tragically, to receive bad news. For the patients it is also a priority to have a brighter, more spacious and comforting environment. Having this lighter and better designed space will make a massive difference not only to our patients but also to the work of our medical teams who currently carry out a fantastic service in difficult conditions.