Help us all to reach a shared agreement on what is going to happen next and what to expect. Summarise the conversations, check our understanding and help me to remember.
I should be the one involved in decisions about my health because I am the one feeling the pain, no one else. Child or Young Person
It makes me feel like I’m a project if there’s all these professionals just sat around talking about me and making decisions about what’s going to happen to me. Child or Young Person
Decisions should be made with us, not about us, no matter how big or small, because they are about our bodies and our lives. Child or Young Person
I help children and young people to form a realistic plan to agree on. It might include things like “I want to have ‘gas’ to go to sleep for my procedure and have a cannula when I’m asleep”.
Treatment is choice; The NICE guidance says each patient has the right to choose and to refuse treatment as well.
I like to say “We can always go back to other options if this doesn’t work for you. It’s OK to change”. It helps alleviate the pressure of agreeing to a treatment plan.
Lots of my patients are experts in their condition and we should trust them to make decisions. I had a child who needed steroid treatment and I had a discussion with him about whether he felt he was improving and whether he wanted to stop after 5 days or whether he felt he would benefit from a slightly longer course. And he was able to say that no, I want to continue for 7 days because I feel the benefit but I think 2 more days will make a difference.
If I have a child or young person who isn’t happy with my suggestions I say things like “What would your treatment plan look like and how can we compromise?”
Sometimes it is helpful to explain that my recommendation is based on evidence. For example, “These are the national guidelines and this is normally what we might offer a child or young person who has x … so we could try y but given your situation and what you have just said is important to you we might try z.”
I help children and young people to form a realistic plan to agree on. It might include things like “I want to have ‘gas’ to go to sleep for my procedure and have a cannula when I’m asleep”.
Janet, Play Specialist
Treatment is choice; The NICE guidance says each patient has the right to choose and to refuse treatment as well.
Anna, Nurse Consultant
I like to say “We can always go back to other options if this doesn’t work for you. It’s OK to change”. It helps alleviate the pressure of agreeing to a treatment plan.
Faraday, Physiotherapist
Lots of my patients are experts in their condition and we should trust them to make decisions. I had a child who needed steroid treatment and I had a discussion with him about whether he felt he was improving and whether he wanted to stop after 5 days or whether he felt he would benefit from a slightly longer course. And he was able to say that no, I want to continue for 7 days because I feel the benefit but I think 2 more days will make a difference.
Nikesh, Pharmacist
If I have a child or young person who isn’t happy with my suggestions I say things like “What would your treatment plan look like and how can we compromise?”
Robert, GP
Sometimes it is helpful to explain that my recommendation is based on evidence. For example, “These are the national guidelines and this is normally what we might offer a child or young person who has x … so we could try y but given your situation and what you have just said is important to you we might try z.”
Akil, Registrar
