15 Steps Challenge, Paediatric Department at Conquest Hospital

Healthwatch East Sussex used a team of Healthwatch East Sussex staff and volunteers including young volunteers to undertake a 15 steps challenge in all three areas of the paediatric department at the Conquest: outpatients, the Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Unit (SSPAU) and inpatients (Kipling Ward).  They wanted to understand what improvements could be made to the paediatric department to improve patient experience, and to hear from young people.

Overall, Healthwatch staff and volunteers agreed that all the areas they observed were safe, that staff were actively caring and involving, and that the areas they saw were well organised and calm.

Healthwatch staff and volunteers were particularly impressed with the staff observed on the ward, who were clearly working very hard to ensure that patients had the best experience possible. While they felt that there had been a real effort to ensure that Outpatients and Inpatients (Kipling) were welcoming to patients, all three areas (particularly SSPAU) could be made more welcoming with some basic improvements to the décor and signage.