SECRETARY of State for health Frank Dobson has congratulated Royal Preston Hospital on its pioneering beacon schemes.

Mr Dobson, pictured with clinical nurse manager for Accident and Emergency Liz Yates, visited the hospital to see how it has achieved a reduction in waiting lists and how accident and emergency staff are channelling their expertise into reducing the number of children having accidents in the home.

Sister Sarifa Kabir, child accident prevention co-ordinator, explained: "We decided that it was best not just to bandage children's injuries up and send them home.

"There's a valuable source of information in the A&E department which can be communicated to patients. What we've done is evaluate specific injuries and managed to communicate with children, parents and school nurses to prevent them from happening.

"At the moment, the biggest problem we have with children aged 0-4 is scalds and burns from tea, coffee, hot water and irons."

The scheme has already demonstrated positive results - in 1994, seven per cent of children attending A&E after swallowing harmful substances; by 1998, the number fell to around one per cent.

Mr Dobson said: "I am really impressed by the efforts made over waiting times and organisation.

"The new system here means that doctors and patients all know what's going on which means everyone is happier.

"The work by A&E staff to stop children having accidents sounds like they're trying to do themselves out of a job!

"It's good to know the expertise these staff have when they treat you, but its a lot better if they can use that expertise and make sure you don't have the accident in the first place.

"When I first became Secretary of State for health, there was no machinery in place to spread the word about better practices.

"What we now aim to do is share the information around the country, rather than have someone invent the wheel twice."

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