CONSULTANT paediatrician Robin Ball is one of a huge team of people who help children back on the road to recovery at York Hospital.

Along with eight other consultants, he leads a team of junior doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, teachers and other specialists in nursing children back to health.

He said: "Looking after very ill children needs a big team with many different skills.

"The ward could not work at all without all the back-up of people such as clerical staff, cleaners, catering staff and the hospital managers.

"If a child needs an operation then other teams, including surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses will also be here to play their part.

"The Guardian Angels appeal will give these professionals the tools they need to help the most ill children in York."

Maureen Augey is one of the staff nurses who help children from the moment they enter the ward to the day they leave.

"The new facilities would mean we would have a room that was specially designed and equipment at hand," she said.

"A lot of it is specialised equipment and it will be a safer environment for children and a nicer environment for parents. More children could be cared for locally and given the highest quality care with staff who would be specially trained.

"You never know which child will need care - it could be a child that's very well today that could be poorly tomorrow and it would be better to stay in their own area rather than go to Leeds and worry about the cost of travel and meals. If the parents have got other children it can really disrupt family life."

Dr Thomas Verghese, registrar, often takes charge of a patient, helps stabilise children and put babies on a ventilator.

He said: "There would still be a limit to what we could do but it would be much better. There would be so many things we could sort out here.

"What is the point in sending babies out of York when we could deal with it ourselves? We have expertise, but we don't have the resources and the talents of medical staff are being wasted. New facilities would be one step forward to getting children in York the best care possible at their doorstep."

Jill Crampton, matron of children's services, helps care for children and supports nursing staff.

She said: "First and foremost the principle would be the same with the new facilities, but we would have a purpose-built environment with the right equipment.

"It would let us have an early detection and be a little bit safer. We do provide the care and we provide good care, but to move us the next stage up would be marvellous. It would be investing in the children of York."

Hospital play specialist Rosie Smithson, said: "Play helps alleviate stress and anxiety for parents as well as children.

"When children are receiving high-dependency care there is very little parents can do for them so play is something they can get involved in. It gives children some control back while they're in hospital.

"With the new facilities we would look at being able to finance more specialised play for the rooms, which would be used on a one-to-one basis."

Updated: 10:25 Friday, October 14, 2005