Enter and view: Children’s Ward Ward 3 Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Healthwatch Bucks undertook an enter and view visit to the Children's Ward at Stoke Manderville Hospital on 14 November 2024.There were 21 in-patients on the Children’s Ward during the visit with two children waiting to be admitted later that day. Most patients (15 out of 21) were babies and young children up to the age of 4 years. Healthwatch spoke to two children aged 7 and 4 years. They also heard from nine parents/caregivers and five members of staff. 

The ward was clean and bright with clear signage on the walls. The play areas for patients, including the outside space and school room, were neat and tidy. Two patient and parent/caregiver areas had restricted access: 

• The sensory room for patients with sensory needs and other patients was locked during our visit
• Healthwatch was told by a parent/caregiver that the room for storing and preparing baby milk was sometimes locked. It was both opened and locked at different times during the visit. 

Healthwatch heard from a member of the paediatric team that staff record information on mobile devises whilst delivering care because the ward is moving from paper to electronic observation charts. Healthwatch saw information displayed on walls about electronic observations and observed staff using iPhone devices.

Patients can leave feedback about the ward by choosing a ‘clothes’ themed feedback card, top (good) or trunk (bad), from a clear A4 envelope which is in the reception/waiting area. There was one completed ‘top’ on display. 

Two children (aged 7 and 4 years) told Healthwatch that they felt homesick. One was missing their family pet. They did not tell us about their experiences on the ward. One of them did not fully understand why they were there. 

Parents/caregivers were mostly positive about their communication with hospital staff and felt informed about treatments and decision making. However, a few felt that communication could be better. They said that they did not feel informed about treatments, waiting times and meals or food restrictions. Also, one parent/caregiver said that doctors speak in ‘medical’ language which is not always easy to understand. Whilst another told Healthwatch that staff use acronyms for different units around the hospital which are also not clear for members of the public to understand.

Most parents/caregivers liked the facilities for children in particular the variety of toys and outside play area. Some said that the facilities for parents/caregivers could be better i.e. ‘real’ cups instead of paper cups for hot drinks and constant hot water for showers. 

The staff that Healthwatch heard from were very positive about their experiences on the ward especially the environment and atmosphere - working with children and having nice colleagues. One suggestion for improvement was to provide more training opportunities to be able to perform extra duties on the ward.

The report includes six recommendations and a response from the provider.