Pets As Therapy (PAT) Junior Club won the Leeds Building Society innovation award for non-clinical areas at South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust event.

South Tyneside District Hospital has three PAT dogs – Tino, Sam and Ben – who visit the long-stay elderly wards and stroke rehabilitation unit.

The junior club was formed to allow under-18s to become actively involved in the work of the charity, and members often accompany adult PAT volunteers to the hospital.

Many parents have told how their child's confidence has grown as a result and how they enjoy chatting with people of all ages from different parts of the community.

They also talk to various groups about the huge difference a PAT dog makes to the patients they visit, bringing comfort and companionship and lowering communication barriers when human contact has failed.

Denise Wilson, development manager of the junior club, said: "To see a child who was very shy stand in front of a crowd and happily tell everyone about the work of the charity and their special PAT dog is really wonderful."

Meanwhile, a pilot project for patients referred to the orthopaedic department with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome won the Huntleigh Healthcare Clinical Award.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful, progressive condition, caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist.

To reduce the length of time patients had to wait for treatment, the hospital introduced a portable held diagnosis device.

It performs a sensory nerve connection study at the wrist, which can be utilised within the first outpatient appointment, giving a diagnosis and the results immediately.

Lisa Hulme, assistant divisional manager for surgical specialities, theatres and critical care, said: "Previously, patients would have had to go to Newcastle or Sunderland for their test, waiting a considerable period of time for the results to be undertaken, read and processed.

"The device ensures, overall, a much improved and pleasant patient experience."