A £20m children's hospital is to be built in Oxford, transforming the city into a centre of excellence for paediatric care.

The children's ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital celebrates the launch. Staff, from left, play specialist Christine Turner, staff nurses Chantel Benson and Emma Smith, play specialist Jo Tyrell, staff nurse Emma Butler and sister Joanne Whale. Children, from left, Nicole Asiedu, James Bimson and Ashley Barr

A campaign was launched today to raise money for the three-storey unit, which will be built at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington.

NHS staff were told the news in a special edition of the Oxford Mail, which was delivered today to all four of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital sites.

It is hoped the hospital will be open by December 2005, offering specialist care for children, as well as being a focal point for innovative paediatric research.

At the moment, young patients receiving treatment in Oxford are scattered around the city in out-dated children's wards and out-patient departments.

The new dedicated hospital will replace services at the JR, the city centre's Radcliffe Infirmary, and the Churchill Hospital, in Headington.

The Horton, in Banbury, will continue to give paediatric care at its children's ward, which was refurbished last year.

Project director Vickie Lamb said: "Currently, children are not only seen in accommodation that was built for adults, but they have to go through many adult areas before they get to the children's out-patient department or wards.

"In the new children's hospital, they will arrive at the JR and go straight into a purpose-built building. It will be designed to take away the fear of going to hospital."

About 14,000 patients will stay at the 106-bed hospital every year.

The ORH has already secured £5m. The remaining £15m will be raised through public donations.

Dr Paul Drayson, Child- ren's Hospital Campaign chairman and chief executive of vaccine firm Powderject, said: "Oxford is a special place. By putting £15m investment into the hospital, we will receive the best medical care in the area."

The Oxford Mail and its fellow Newsquest titles, readers and advertisers will be playing a major role in the funding exercise.

Oxford Mail editor Jim McClure said: "Oxford doctors saved my younger son's life -- but you don't need a memory like that to feel sure there can't be a more worthwhile cause in the county than helping to see the children's hospital become a reality."