A PIONEERING scheme is making hospital less frightening for youngsters.

The Well Teddy project is aimed at children aged four to seven, and visits schools across Bolton to explain what happens in hospitals, and how injections, operations and other medical procedures are carried out.

Run as part of the Royal Bolton Hospital's children's service, which is set to expand if the hospital is chosen to become one of three regional super-centres, the sessions have already been to nine local schools since they started two years ago.

Staff from the children's wards visited Bishop Bridgeman Primary School in Great Lever to explain to four year olds about what happens in hospital.

Play co-ordinator Lydia Hill said: "We decided to reach this age group because they're very receptive and can often be frightened.

"The response we've had from them has been absolutely fantastic. It's a great feeling to see how much we've reassured them."

Youngsters are shown a video, featuring Judy Bear, explaining what happens in hospitals.

Children are also invited to bring in their own teddies, so they can use equipment such as stethoscopes and bandages on them.

Bolton has been shortlisted as the experts' preferred option to become one of three super-centres for babies and children in a £31 million shake-up of services in Greater Manchester, East Cheshire and High Peak in Derbyshire.

If Bolton is chosen, money will be invested in maternity care, children's and neo-natal services at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

If the hospital is not picked, it will lose its current neonatal unit, and critically ill babies will have to be treated out of Bolton.

The Bolton Evening News has launched the Back The Baby Unit campaign. Show your support for the hospital to become a super-centre by filling in the coupon on the right.

A public consultation has been launched and will run until April 13. After that date, representatives from the 17 Primary Care Trusts affected by the changes will decide which hospitals will become super-centres.

People can view the plans by visiting www.bestforhealth. nhs.uk or by attending local events. Call Veronica Swinburne on 01204 907717 or Heather Edwards on 01204 390363 for details.

Responses can be made on the www.bestfor health.nhs.uk website or writing to Freepost, Making It Better.