Parental Access and Family Facilities Survey 2012-13

Date: 16th October 2013
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

This is the seventh and most comprehensive survey of Scottish hospitals admitting children and young people and while the survey has found many examples of good practice, the picture is uneven both within boards and across the system.

The survey findings in the report have been benchmarked against the ten articles of the Charter of the European Association for Children in Hospital (EACH). EACH, which is itself underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), sets the key standards for the care of children in hospital.

Since the first survey in 1985 there have been very significant improvements in both parental access and family facilities. As in 2005/7, the 2012/13 survey has been funded by the Scottish Government with whom Action for Sick Children Scotland (ASCS) has a long record of working in partnership to improve the care of sick children and young people in hospitals and in the community.

The survey findings on NHS Scottish hospitals admitting paediatric patients were launched at an event hosted by Alison McInnes MSP at the Scottish Parliament on 9th October. In addition to the presentation of Action for Sick Children Scotland's findings delivered by Dr Zoe Dunhill, attendees also heard from Chief Nursing Officer Ros Moore as well as two young people and a parent who talked about their experiences of visiting and staying in hospital.

While there have, for example, been marked improvements in open visiting and overnight accommodation for parents and carers, certain ward procedures and facilities for children remain suboptimal.

Many of the failures appear to be owing to a failure to implement Scottish Government policy, such as having a dedicated named nurse or giving young people a say in the type of ward to which they are admitted. The problem is compounded by an apparent failure to monitor implementation and a lack of accountability.

• Download the full report here.