HEADING into Colchester General Hospital together on one of their regular visits, Amanda Binding and her dog Frank draw a lot of attention.

A number of people stop to chat, as do a great deal of staff as he makes his way to the Children's Ward.

Cockerpoo Frank, a blend of Cocker Spaniel and poodle, is the first Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog to make regular visits to the ward and the impact of his presence is clear to see.

Before we even reach the Children's Ward itself he is stopped for a cuddle and a pat by a whole host of people keen to know his story.

Owner Amanda has grown used to the attention and handles it with aplomb - the obvious joy he brings are reward itself for her.

Gazette:

New pal - Frank and Amanda meet patient Ava Pickett

"I had the idea of volunteering him to be a PAT dog because he was just so good with people and everyone kept telling me how lovely he was.

"I could see the effect he was having on other people and when we went on walks they were always stopping to give him a fuss and he really responded to it.

"So I got in touch with the charity and they gave me a list of places that were interested in having visits," she explains.

As well as fortnightly visits to see the youngsters at Colchester General Hospital, Amanda also takes Frank to a care home for elderly people in the town.

His visits have a similarly joyous impact there too - although they do jokingly complain his constantly wagging tail can cause a bit of a draft.

"It often sparks a lot of conversation and memories when I go to the care home.

"They will talk about a dog they had as a child or something that happened to them. It is very therapeutic which is the whole point of it," adds Amanda.

Accompanying them on to the Children's Ward the buzz around Frank's arrival grows and he heads in to see who might like to say hello.

Play specialist team leader on the ward Sarah Amos explains some children are nervous while others can't wait to meet the furry visitor.

"A stay in hospital can obviously be really stressful and worrying.

Gazette:

Friends - Frank and Amanda meet patient Lacey Freeman 

"There can be lots of waiting and it is an anxious time so to have something like this, just a two minute break where their minds are taken off it for a while is just wonderful.

"And not just for the children, for the parents too. It is a chance to talk about something else and take their minds off things," she says.

Once on the ward Frank heads out with play leaders to see who would like to come and give him a fuss.

First stop is to the bedside of a young lady who might not be able to talk but soon gives a beaming smile as Frank gently lays his paws on the bed next to her.

They share a bonding moment before he quietly heads back out and round to see Ava Pickett who is recovering after having her tonsils out.

Word had previously got round of the potential arrival of Frank and she was worried she may have been discharged before he got there.

Mum Chloe Pace explains: "She wants to go home but was also hoping to see Frank so it is a really lovely treat for children who have been in hospital.

"There is a lot of waiting and she has had to come in and out a bit."

Frank obliges with some much needed cuddles and then heads off, leaving Ava smiling and ready to go home.

Around the corner Lacey Freeman is also recovering from an operation, this time to fit gromits in her ears.

She is more cautious but Frank soon wins her round.

Like many of the children on the ward, she doesn't have a dog but soon gets to know the way to Franks's heart is a tickle under the chin and a scratch below the leg.

Sarah says Frank's visits are not just looked forward to by the children - the staff love seeing him too.

"It is a reason to stop and take a moment out, to just interact with him.

"That can have such a positive impact for everyone really. You can see that from the way most people want to stop and approach him and just say hello."

Further round the hall four-year-old Ivy Chapman and her little sister Niamh, 13 months, can hardly contain their delight at coming face to face with Frank.

Their smiles and squeaks of happiness filter down the corridor.

Ivy and her family, who live in Harwich, have been in and out of the ward since September when they received the devastating news the little girl has leukaemia.

Chemotherapy has had to be momentarily stopped because Ivy's condition worsened and earlier this week she was admitted to hospital.

Mum Holly explains a feeding tube has now been put in and it is hoped Ivy will go home imminently, once they have learned to use it properly.

The visit from Frank is a welcome distraction from what has been a difficult few days.

"Ivy and I have been here since the start of the week so we have not see Niamh in that time.

"I just brought her back today so to have her here has been a real boost and now they are both getting to see Frank which has really cheered them up. It is a lovely idea to have him come and visit," she explains.

The family from Harwich, hope Ivy will soon re-start her chemotherapy treatment.

The girls follow Frank down the corridor as he does a full tour, meeting toddlers and older children waiting to go into out patient appointments.

A well-earned drink is waiting for him once he gets back to the start and he and Amanda get ready to go home.

"He is often pretty tired when he gets home from the visits so he will probably have a sleep," explains Amanda who as well as working for Waitrose helps a number of charities in her spare time.

Today's visit might be over, but there are plenty of cuddles waiting for him when he returns in a fortnight's time.