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CHILDREN'S HEALTH SCOTLAND'S - NATIONAL HEALTH RIGHTS SURVEY 2026 - TRUSTED ADULT (PARENT/CARER)

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

In this survey, you choose a number from 1 to 5 to show how much you agree.
1 means ‘I don’t agree at all’ and 5 means ‘I totally agree!’” and the numbers in between are in the middle. Choose the number that fits your feeling best.

(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.
TO SUBMIT ANSWERS PLEASE PRESS THE GREEN BUTTON AT THE END OF THIS FULL SURVEY.
Please answer any optional questions you feel comfortable responding to. Every contribution—big or small—adds valuable context to this national picture.
If you would like to know more about our privacy notice, you can find it at: https://www.childrenshealthscotland.org/privacy/
1.What is your health board?(Required.)
2.How confident do you feel in understanding your child’s health rights? (e.g., consent, confidentiality, participation, access to services)(Required.)
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3.Do you want to tell us more?
4.In the past 12 months, how accessible have services been that support your child’s health have been?
( 1 means not accessible, 5 means very accessible)(Required.)
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5.Do you want to tell us more?
6.Do you feel that staff listen to you and treat you as an equal partner in decisions when accessing services that support your child's health?(Required.)
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7.Do you want to tell us more?
8.If your child has a disability or any additional support need, have you been able to get the right help in services that support your child's health?
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9.Do you want to tell us more?
10.If your child is aged 12 or older, how well supported do you feel in planning their transition to adult services that support their health?
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11.Do you want to tell us more?
12.If you are a Foster Carer, do you receive enough support to meet your child’s health needs? Only answer if you are a Foster Carer
13.Do you want to tell us more?
14.If you are a Kinship Carer, do you receive enough support to meet your child’s health needs? Only answer if you are a Kinship Carer
15.Do you want to tell us more?
16.Has your child experienced delays accessing mental health or neurodevelopmental services? (CAMHS, ADHD, Autism assessment, counselling.)
1 being has experienced delays and 5 being no delays(Required.)
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17.Do you want to tell us more?
18.Have you received clear, age appropriate, rights-based information from health professionals about your child’s treatment, choices, or what to expect in hospital?
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19.Do you want to tell us more?
20.How easy has it been for you to advocate for your child's health needs?(Required.)
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21.Do you want to tell us more?
22.What additional support, information or training from Children’s Health Scotland would help you better support your child’s health and rights?(Required.)
OPTIONAL QUESTIONS - YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS
The next few questions are completely optional. You do not need to answer them to finish the survey.

However, if you feel comfortable sharing a bit more, your responses will help us better understand the experiences of parents, carers, and families who support children and young people with health needs. This information helps us to:

  • Understand what is working well for families
  • Identify areas where children’s health rights may need stronger support
  • Improve the guidance, resources, and services available to families across Scotland

Please only answer these questions if you feel comfortable to.
All information you share helps build a clearer national picture—and supports us to make positive change for children and young people.
23.Have you ever been asked for feedback by your Health Board?
24.Do you want to tell us more?
25.Do you know about the Young Patients Family Fund?
26.If yes, have you used the Young Patients Family Fund?
27.Do you want to tell us more about the Young Patients Family Fund or financial support for families?
28.Do you feel confident challenging healthcare decisions when something doesn’t feel right for you?
29.Would you like to tell us more?
30.Do you think your child feels listened to during health appointments?
31.Do you want to tell us more?
Is there anything else you'd like to say?
32.Please tell us if there is anything else you'd like to say here.