Mostly good experiences of hospital care, report shows

A national survey has shown that most children and young people report good experiences of hospital care, but highlights some areas for improvement.

The results of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) second children and young person’s survey reveal what over 34,000 children and young people under the age of 16 and their parents and carers said about the hospital care they received during November and December 2016.

Overall 91 per cent of children and young people aged 8-15 who took part in the 2016 survey said they had been looked after ‘very well’ or ‘quite well’ while in hospital and 87 per cent felt that the staff looking after them were ‘always’ friendly.

The majority of responders were also positive about the way in which staff had communicated with them. 86 per cent reported that staff had talked to them about how they would be cared for, and of those who had an operation or procedure while in hospital, 93 per cent said they received an explanation beforehand about what would happen. 90 per cent of 12-15 year olds who wanted to talk to a doctor or nurse without their parent or carer being there said they were able to.

Among parents and carers of children aged seven or under, 83 per cent felt their child had ‘always’ been well looked after by hospital staff and 85 per cent felt that, as parents and carers, they were ‘always’ treated with respect and dignity.

97 per cent of children aged 0-15 said that the hospital room or ward where their child was treated was ‘very clean’ or ‘quite clean’, and 91 per cent said that staff had agreed a plan for their child’s care with them.

While the majority of responses reflect a positive experience, the survey also identified some areas where NHS trusts could improve.

36 per cent of children aged 8-11 said they did not always understand what staff said when they spoke to them and 20 per cent of this group said they did not feel involved at all in making decisions about their care or treatment.

Three per cent of 12-15 year olds spent most of their stay in hospital on an adult ward. 11 per cent of these patients did not feel the ward was suitable for someone of their age.

36 per cent of parents and carers said that staff were not ‘always’ available when their child needed attention, while 28 per cent felt that staff did not ‘definitely’ know how to care for their child’s individual or special needs and eight per cent thought staff were unaware of their child’s medical history.

Survey responses were often less positive where a child or young person had a self-reported mental health condition.

Ted Baker, Chief Inspector of Hospitals at CQC, said: “Overall, the NHS should be pleased with the results of the 2016 survey which show the majority of children and young people were happy with their care. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of hospital staff working with children and young people across the country. It also reflects the findings from our inspections, which show the quality of children and young people’s services is often rated higher than any other core service within a hospital.

“However, the survey does show some areas where children, young people and their parents and carers reported room for improvement. Hospitals should examine the results of this survey, together with our inspection reports and take steps to improve their care where necessary.

“We’re encouraging more children and young people to share their experiences of care with us. Along with our inspections, this feedback is crucial to help the NHS improve the quality of its services for children and young people.”