Staff praised for their high standards of care

23 May 2025

Parents and carers have praised the kindness, compassion and commitment of staff caring for children and young people at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).

The latest Children and Young People Survey, carried out by Picker Institute on behalf of the Care Quality Commission, captured the views and experiences of children, young people and their parents and carers between August and December 2024. Responses were received from 179 people.

Questions included in the survey considered the waiting area, the hospital ward, communication with staff, being looked after in hospital, hospital food and facilities, pain management, operations and procedures and leaving hospital.

The results highlighted 99% of parents felt their child was looked after in hospital and that they were treated with dignity and respect by the staff and 87% rated their overall hospital experience highly (7/10 or more).

Parents and carers praised staff for providing them with clear explanations both before and after their child’s operation or procedure. They felt they understood with their child’s individuals needs and were confident in who to contact if they were worried about their child once they left the hospital.

Children felt staff talked to them in a way they understood and felt involved in decisions about their care and treatment. They also praised staff for providing activities for them during their stay.

The results from the survey also highlighted areas for improvement. Parents felt the wi-fi quality was not good enough for what their child wanted, and the hospital food choice could be developed to offer a more diverse range.

Director of Nursing at DCH Jo Howarth said: “We are absolutely delighted by the results of the Children and Young People Survey.

“Our paediatric team work incredibly hard to ensure that both the child and their parents and carers have a positive experience at our hospital. The results reflect the dedication and commitment of our staff.

“Patient feedback is vitally important in helping us to continue to shape and improve the care and experience we provide to our patients, and we will be taking steps to address areas where improvements can be made.”

The full patient survey results for all hospitals are available on the CQC website.