A national survey reveals that while children and young people report positive experiences of being involved in decisions about their healthcare, there is a clear need for better emotional support and more effective responses to concerns raised during hospital stays.
Results from the 2024 Children and Young People’s Patient Experience Survey, which was coordinated by the independent charity Picker on behalf of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), included responses from over 25,000 children, young people, and their parents / carers across 120 NHS trusts in England. The survey focused on the experiences of inpatient and day case care for children and young people aged from 15 days to 15 years, exploring both personal elements of care – such as staff interactions and communication – and practical issues like food and facilities.
Involvement in decisions
Children and young people reported high levels of involvement in decisions about their care and treatment:
- Nearly eight in ten (79%) 8 to 11 year olds said they were involved, rising to almost nine in ten (87%) 12 to 15 year olds.
- For the younger age group, nine in ten (91%) parents / carers said they were involved in decisions about their child’s care and treatment.
Interactions with staff
Staff play a crucial role in creating positive healthcare experiences, especially for children and young people. These interactions were generally positive, with four out of five (81%) children and young people saying that staff were ‘very’ friendly. However, only 70% ‘always’ felt able to ask staff questions, and just over two thirds (71%) felt that staff always took the time to listen to their worries and fears. This figure was notably lower for younger children: only 59% of parents / carers said that staff always took the time to listen to their child’s worries and fears.
Support with play and activities – important for emotional wellbeing in hospital – was also lacking:
- 37% of children and young people aged 8 to 15 said that there was no play or activities with staff during their hospital stay.
- 38% parents / carers of children aged 0 to 7 said that staff did not play with their child whilst they were in hospital.
Responding to concerns
The survey explored parents’ experiences of raising concerns. Over half (62%) of parents / carers who raised a concern said it was ‘definitely’ taken seriously, but nearly 4 in 10 (38%) felt it was taken seriously only ‘to some extent’ or not at all. These results suggest room for improvement in how parents are empowered to raise concerns about their child’s condition or treatment.
Commenting on the findings, Chris Graham, Group CEO at Picker, said: “The results from the Children and Young People’s Patient Experience Survey are a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to the voices of children, young people and their families. It’s encouraging to see strong levels of involvement in care decisions, but the findings also highlight areas where the NHS must do better—particularly in supporting young people’s emotional wellbeing and responding to their and their families’ concerns”
“Every child and young person deserves to feel heard, supported, and safe when accessing and experiencing healthcare. As Martha’s Rule aims to strengthen families’ ability to seek a review of their loved one’s condition, these insights underline just how vital it is that those concerns are always taken seriously.
“Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS noted the patient voice is often not loud enough in the NHS: this is particularly so for children and young people. It is essential that the upcoming ten year plan for health has a clear focus on the health and wellbeing of these future generations.
“Providers should use these results to drive meaningful improvements in services and to ensure that all children and young people receive high quality, person-centred care.”
Full results for the survey are available from Survey - NHS Surveys
