Following the launch last December of the children’s emergency room at Mater Dei hospital, more than 12,000 children have been treated at the facility.

“Medical treatment of children is different from that of adults, which is why we felt the need to set up an emergency unit specifically for the needs of the child,” Health Minister Chris Fearne said.

Staff, nurses and doctors at the unit are specifically trained to treat children, and in addition to this it is the environment of the emergency room which makes a big difference to the them.

Facilities such as play areas, themed hospital rooms and areas where parents can change their babies and put them to sleep have all been made available.