POORLY youngsters and their families have praised a health trust for the care they received while in hospital.
This week health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) released the results of its 2016 Children and Young People's Survey.
The survey was completed by youngsters being treated by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), as well as those also being cared for by other trusts in the country.
It revealed the quality of care provided to young people at OUH was good and in several areas the trust performed better than others in the country.
OUH excelled in good communication between staff, patients and their carers, with more than 90 per cent of eight to 15-year-olds saying hospital staff had explained how they were going to care for them.
Almost 100 per cent of the survey participants said they felt comfortable enough to ask questions about their treatment.
Children's patient experience lead at the trust, Tracy Toohey, said: "We are delighted to have done so well in the survey.
"The trust is committed to enhancing and improving the experience of the children and young people we care for.
"Undergoing treatment in hospital can be daunting and frightening for younger patients and we’re pleased to know that so many of the right elements are in place to make the experience as positive as possible."
Nearly all 12 to 15-year-olds said they felt they were able to speak with a doctor or nurse without their parent or guardian being present.
A voluntary group called the Young People's Executive (YiPpEe) made up of 11 to 18-year-olds was set up by the trust to help shape the way young people were cared for at OUH.
YiPpEe co-ordinator Scott Lambert said: "“YiPpEe helps to bridge the gap between young patients and adults, by communicating their thoughts and feelings about their experience of care at OUH.
"This is very important to us and something, we believe, we’ve been able to deliver successfully, which is helping to improve patient experience for children and young people."
Parents and carers also indicated that they felt listened to by hospital staff, were able to help plan the care of their child and were given enough information to be actively involved in decisions about their child's treatment.
This survey looked at the experiences of 34,708 children and young people who received inpatient or day care during October, November and December 2016.
Between February and June 2017, a questionnaire was sent to a maximum of 1,250 recent patients at each trust.
More than 450 OUH patients sent their responses to the CQC.
For the full report visit cqc.org.uk/provider/RTH/survey/14
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