Special light installations will feature in Airedale Hospital’s new Emergency Department to help ease the anxieties of patients.

The installations will comprise about 30 individual sections. One – to be provided in the Butterfly Room – depicts blue skies and cherry blossom, which by creating a light and calm environment, is designed to help patients with dementia.

But the installations are also expected to be a boon for young patients.

Dr Meg Crossley, consultant in emergency medicine at the hospital, said: “The light installations will be a real feature of the waiting areas, especially the children’s.

“That will have a hot-air balloon theme, so when youngsters look up at the ceiling, it will appear as though they are looking straight though the roof to a cluster of balloons flying high in the sky.

“We know from our research this will help to ease the anxieties both of young people and their parents as they are awaiting assessment and treatment.”

The light installations – earmarked for the Butterfly Room plus general and children’s waiting areas – are being provided by a specialist manufacturer, and will cost about £35,000.

Dr Crossley said a £7,000 pledge had already been received.

“We are delighted with that, and we are looking forward to speaking with any individuals or businesses who can help us raise the additional funds needed for this innovative feature,” she added.

“We are really keen to raise the £35,000 as soon as possible so we can fit all the sections of the light installation into these areas before we open the doors of our new Emergency Depart-ment later this year.”

Anyone wishing to donate towards the light installations is asked to send a cheque – payable to ‘Airedale NHS FTCF’ – together with an accompanying letter to The Emergency Department Appeal, c/o Finance Dept, Airedale Hospital, Skipton Road, Keighley BD20 8TD.