A hospital re-painted in different colors has recently attracted an increase of over 20 percent of patients in the capital of east China's Shandong Province.

The hospital,specializing in health care for women and children,has painted the walls of its gynaecology department pink and the pediatrics department pale blue.The blue walls are also dotted with pictures of stars and moons.

Liu Yujun,deputy director of the hospital,said that the colorful design helps soothe patients'anxiety.Violet,for instance,he said,gives a cozy family feel and is now used to decorate the climacteric department,where patients tend to be edgy and worrying.

The colorful hospital has won popularity with patients here.A middle-aged woman patient said,"I used to be scared by the white color of the walls and the doctors'clothes."She used to flee from the hospital immediately after treatment.

"Now I feel more relaxed,"she said.

( eastda.com January 29, 2002)