Children will soon be chuckled back to health by a pioneering new doctor who has started work at an Oxford casualty department, writes Victoria Owen.

Cartoon character Dr Rad, along with his colleague Nurse Cliffe, have been brought to life to support youngsters during their stay at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington.

Thought up by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital's Charitable Funds team, the cheeky cartoon characters is a first for hospitals in the UK and has been designed to cheer up children, as one in every four patients in casualty is a child.

Charitable Funds community development officer Jacqui Martin said youngsters often felt isolated and scared and she wanted to make sure information was available for them to get to grips with their treatment. By using cartoon characters, the youngsters can get a better understanding of the hospital and its staff.

Mrs Martin said: "When I arrived six months ago there was nothing for children. Our logo is great, but doesn't really appeal to them.

"Dr Rad will be around A&E on posters and up in the children's wards. It's something simple and something they can see that is bright and interesting for them."

The doctor will not only help children come to terms with their stay in hospital, but has already started touring schools on child-friendly leaflets explaining the history and role of hospitals in Oxford.

Mrs Martin also hopes that the character will also spread safety awareness and future pictures of him roller-blading or cycling could see him wearing crash helmets and elbow pads. Oxford University Press graphic designer John Taylor dreamed up Dr Rad after being approached by the charitable funds department which co-ordinates fundraising for Oxford's JR, the Churchill and the Radcliffe Infirmary and The Horton, Banbury.

"I just had to put a face to the name. I played around with him for a bit until I came up with something I liked. But I thought he would be reasonably young looking. Nurse Cliffe was based on my wife.

"He's fun to draw and once he's developed then you can pull him around and get him to do other things and there are going to be other characters too." The Charitable Funds team is hoping to raise money to develop Dr Rad and Nurse Cliffe for further posters and pictures.