Humber Acute Services Programme - Young People - What Matters to You?

We Asked

We wanted to ensure the voices of children and young people were heard as we plan for how paediatric care could be delivered in the future.

Earlier in the year we undertook an extensive engagement activity called What Matters to You however, participation from children and young people was low. 

To ensure that the voices of children and young people were heard, from November 2021 to January 2022 we launched a targeted engagement exercise with children and young people across the Humber to hear what they like and don't like about coming into hospital. 

This is also included listening to parents, carers and guardians experiences of accessing paediatric services.

63 responses were received from children and young people aged between 2-18 years old. 

You Said

Feeling cared for and safe was most important to you
The children and young people taking part in the engagement were provided with six simplified statements and asked to pick their top three in order of importance. Feeling cared for and safe came out top. This is consistent with what parents, carers and guardians said was most important, however different to our other What Matters to You engagement where I am seen and treated as quickly as possible was ranked as the most important. 

You also said it was very important that:
- you don't have to wait too long
- there are enough doctors and nurses
- the building is nice and has everything you need

Children and young people ranked the building is nice and has everything I need (Estates and Infrastructure) comparatively higher than all the other (adult) stakeholder groups we engaged with, where it was consistently ranked eighth out of nine. This suggests that buildings and the equipment inside of them are more important to children and young people than adult stakeholder groups. 

What's good about coming into hospital
Using a variety of different methods including drawings, lists, stories or poems. Young people taking part in the engagement were encouraged to tell us what the best thing about coming into hospital was.

• Getting better, having a good experience (e.g. a comfy bed, having numbing cream put on so it doesn't hurt.), no longer being in pain and the play specialists
• Being able to watch lots of films, read books and play with toys
• Friendly, smiling nurses and doctors who work hard to make me feel better, comfortable and safe
• Quick diagnosis and clean environment 

What's rubbish about coming into hospital
Using the same methods described above, young people were then asked to tell us what the worst thing about coming into hospital was. 

• Being told different things by different doctors/nurses is really confusing - better communication is needed. 
• Being kept in the dark - Clear information is needed which is presented in an understandable way about what is going to happen.
• It can get boring - and better access to toys and digital technology, such as gaming devices, Netflix and Wi-Fi is needed. 
• Long waiting times, being away from home and not being able to interact with nature (e.g. not being able to see the trees from your hospital bed)
• Having procedures done, (e.g. blood tests, injections and having the "areoplane" (cannula) taken out.)

If you were poorly and had 3 magic wishes to make you feel better you would wish for...

Wish 1 - Nice food and drink - e.g. chocolate and ice cream
Wish 2 - Home comforts - e.g. your own bed and cuddles
Wish 3 - Tech and toys - e.g. being able to watch a film or play with toys

To read the full feedback report and executive summary, please click the document links below. 

We Did

Next, we will:
Use the feedback to inform our evaluation of potential clinical models for paediatric services

Continue to provide opportunities for children and young people to share their thoughts and ask questions relating to the Humber Acute Services Programme

Reflect and learn from this engagement, and use that learning to inform our engagement approach to formal public consultation, ensuring we are able to talk to more children and young people, their parents, carers and guardians.