Health secretary Andy Burnham visits Evelina Children’s Hospital

During his visit Mr Burnham chatted to children and their parents on the wards as well as visiting the paediatric intensive care unit and the MRI imaging department.

He also met chief executive Ron Kerr, chairman Patricia Moberly, medical director Edward Baker, paediatric clinical director Grenville Fox and chief nurse Eileen Sills.

"I'd like to thank all staff and children at the Evelina Children's Hospital for welcoming me and giving me a tour of their state-of-the-art facilities," said Andy Burnham.

"Being in hospital is a difficult time for all children and families. Receiving care from dedicated staff and being in a building that children helped design can make a big difference, which is clear from the friendly atmosphere on the wards."

Ron Kerr said: "It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Burnham to the Evelina. We are very proud of our children's hospital both in terms of the modern and innovative design of the building and the world-class specialist services our clinicians provide.

"As part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, the Evelina is ideally placed to provide children's services in dedicated facilities, with the added benefit of being on the site of a large acute hospital with specialist adult services and other major services such as maternity and A&E."

The Evelina Children's Hospital's current building opened in 2005 and is the first new children's hospital in London for 100 years. The children's hospital, which was originally located on Southwark Bridge Road, was more recently based at the Guy's Hospital site.