Young patients waiting to be seen at Walsall Manor Hospital’s outpatients fracture clinic now have a waiting area to call their own.

The Care Quality Commission’s 2017 inspection highlighted the fact that no provision was made for a children’s waiting area and staff have been working to address this issue.

The new waiting area was unveiled on Monday and six year-old Ollie Rudaw of Bloxwich was the first to try it out – giving it a big thumbs up!

Claire Keeling, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Matron, Division of Surgery, praised the teamwork involved.

“We’ve had support from  Divisional Director of Nursing Caroline Whyte and Play Specialist Sam Deane and Senior Staff Nurse Joy Hadley has sorted out all the furniture,” she said.

“We’ve had some positive feedback from Ollie and we’re sure that this provision will enhance the experience of our young patients and their families as it does create a quieter area away from the hustle and bustle of the main clinic which can be extremely busy with emergency referrals.”

Senior Staff Nurse Joy Hadley added: “The new waiting area is working well and we’ll be adding to it as we go along to make the hospital experience as pleasant as we can for our young patients.”