Currently, children needing high-dependency care use a room opposite the nurses' station.

Monitors and other equipment are brought in from elsewhere, sometimes being taken from other children who are less poorly.

Nurses try to stabilise them, constantly monitoring their condition and observing signs and symptoms of their illness.

If they need intensive care, they are taken to an operating theatre block or to the Accident and Emergency unit to wait for a transfer to Leeds or further afield.

Logistics mean they can be waiting for anything from two to six hours.

The majority who stay in York are moved into another bay when they recover sufficiently.

Babies have their own room next to the nurses' station with an incubator, monitor and ventilator, all with a limited range of functions.

Children could need high-dependency care for between four to 48 hours, depending on how their condition develops.

They are given the best care possible with the facilities available, but with your help, we could make it better.

Updated: 09:36 Monday, October 10, 2005