GOING along to A&E at Bradford Royal Infirmary might not be a picnic for poorly youngsters but thanks to generous well-wishers they will be ‘sure of a big surprise’.

Over the years West Yorkshire Freemasons have given more than 6,000 teddy bears to the emergency department’s children’s area, so it does seem that ‘every bear that ever there was’ has passed through its doors.

Yesterday representatives from the Freemasons visited the department to celebrate the teddy milestone and hand over a special silver-framed certificate to mark the occasion.

They also presented a cheque for £500 which will be used to buy sensory equipment for the new paediatric ward when the hospital’s £28m annexe opens later this year.

The new wing will house two new children’s wards and extra activity and social areas for young patients to relax in, making their stay more enjoyable.

The teddies are part of the Freemasons’ Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) initiative which started out at Sheffield Children’s Hospital but proved so successful it was rolled out across the Yorkshire region to spread the hugs.

Freemason Peter Bateman, who retired from the BRI as its patient transport manager, was there to hand over the gifts to Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioner Sister Sharon Popple.

Sister Popple said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Freemasons for their generosity and support over the years.

“The teddies work magic. We give them out to children to cuddle when they need distracting.”

Often teddies were given plasters and stitches in places to match the patients, added Sister Popple, which helped staff carry out examinations and treatments.

The silver-framed certificate will take pride of place in the department, she said.

Since the Freemasons’ initiative started seven years ago, the organisation has given out more than a million teddies across West Yorkshire. Mr Bateman said: “It gives the Freemasons lots of pleasure to be giving out these teddies and know that they are making such a big difference to young patients. We keep the hospital regularly supplied to make sure they don’t run out!”