§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice is given to hospital administrators regarding the treatment of children staying in hospital, in particular with regard to visiting, treatment in adult wards and allowing parents to stay with their children.
§ Sir George YoungComprehensive guidance is given in the Department's circular HM(71)22 "Hospital Facilities for Children "and its accompanying memorandum, and is reaffirmed in circular HC(77)30. Additional guidance with regard to visiting and allowing parents to stay with their children is contained in circular HC(78)28 "Children in Hospital : Maintenance of Family Links"; and circular HC(76)5 commends to the notice of health authorities the report of an expert group on "Play for Children in Hospital".
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of children staying in hospital at the latest convenient date was being treated in adult wards.
§ Sir George YoungThe percentages given below are for 1978 for all children under 16 in non-psychiatric hospitals—babies in special care baby units excepted—and for 1977 by the different age-bands :
71W
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that his Department's advice on the treatment of children staying in hospital is being followed ; and if he has any plans to issue fresh guidance.
§ Sir George YoungI welcome this opportunity of reaffirming the policy set out in existing departmental circulars. I am confident that recognition of the distinctive needs of children is steadily growing, although progress in some respects falls short of what we would all wish. What is needed now is not fresh guidance from the Department, but renewed efforts by health authorities to identify where further improvements are needed, and to initiate discussions with the doctors and nurses concerned on how to bring them about. In this connection I welcome the excellent report just produced by the Consumers' Association, which I have commended to the notice of health authorities ; the association is sending copies to the chairmen of all regional and area health authorities. The Department, with the Central Office of Information, has produced a film illustrating good practice in the care of children in hospital, which will shortly be released ; and a health building note on the design of hospital children's departments is in preparation.