Children’s Health Scotland works to ensure every child in Scotland has the right to the best possible health and understands their health rights. We provide support programmes for children with health conditions, as well as for Kinship and Foster Carers. We are the only charity in Scotland that focuses on the healthcare needs and rights of children with health conditions, and we work with children, families, carers, teachers, and health professionals to help everyone understand how to support children’s health and wellbeing
Children are not small adults. They differ from adults socially, mentally, and physically, and adult health policies and services do not work for children. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Article 24, children have the right to the best possible health. The European Association For Children In Hospital And Healthcare (EACH) Charter also states that children have the right to care that recognises their age and individual needs, to be listened to, to receive clear information, and to feel safe and supported when using services that support their health. Scotland’s GIRFEC approach underpins this work by ensuring every child gets the right support at the right time, centred around their wellbeing needs.

This survey gives professionals across Scotland the chance to share their experiences so Scotland can better respect and uphold children's rights.

(In this survey, as in the UNCRC, the word ‘children’ is used to refer to babies, children, and young people below the age of 18.)

Please note, in this survey, the word ‘health’ is used to refer to the three parts of health – physical, mental and social.
If you would like to know more about our privacy notice, you can find it at: https://www.childrenshealthscotland.org/privacy/

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* 1. What is your health board?

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* 2. What is your role?

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* 3. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, how many children and young people under 18 accessed your hospital or department Please provide total numbers.

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Of the children under 18 who attended your hospital/department between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, how many were admitted to:

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* 4. Paediatric wards

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* 5. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 6. Adult wards (including any child placed in an adult environment)

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* 7. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 8. How many paediatric beds does your setting currently provide?

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* 9. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 10. Please describe one example of best practice in your hospital/ department relating to children’s health rights (UNCRC, EACH Charter, GIRFEC, participation, trauma-informed practice, rights based communication)

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* 11. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 12. What improvements could be made implementing children’s health rights and embedding UNCRC and GIRFEC in your hospital/ department

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* 13. Have staff within your Board completed training on children’s health rights, the EACH Charter, UNCRC, GIRFEC or rights based practice?

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* 14. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 15. How does your Board ensure children’s voices actively shape their care and service design?

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* 16. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 17. Does your hospital/ department ensure consistent access to health play services, education, and age-appropriate rights-based information for children and young people?

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* 18. If there are any gaps please describe them here

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* 19. Can you tell us how your hospital / department support parents, carers, and care experienced young people in a rights and trauma led way?

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* 20. Are Parents/Carers informed about all financial and other supports available? For example, young patient's family fund.

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* 21. How do you ensure equitable access to, what are reasonable adjustments for disabled children or those with additional support needs?

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* 22. Do you have a rights based transition policy in place?

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* 23. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 24. Would your Board be willing to nominate a representative to join a national Rights of the Child (ROC) Hospital Network to share best practice and develop consistent rights based standards across Scotland?

Is there anything else you'd like to say?

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* 26. Please tell us if there is anything else you'd like to say here.

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