We will collect information from children and young people whilst they are inpatients. This is because we want to know about their experience of being a patient whilst they are in hospital.

Before we can collect any information we need to ensure that the child or young person knows what they are being asked to take part in and what they will be asked to do. If, having been given this information and having any questions answered, they are happy to take part the researcher will ask the young person to give their assent or consent.

There are three main ways that young people will be asked about their experience of being in hospital. The first is by working with the researcher to complete a Talking Mat™. The child or young person will be asked if they like, don’t like or are unsure about a particular aspect of their hospital stay.

The second is completing a questionnaire which asks children and young people about what happens when they are in hospital. The researchers will have a number of versions of the questionnaire and can help the child or young person complete this, for example, by reading out the questions.

The child or young person will take the researcher on a tour of the hospital is the third way that we would like to collect information. If the young person is well enough to leave the ward (with the permission of the nurse in charge) they will be asked to take the researcher on a tour of the hospital and to take photographs of where they go and what is important to them. If the young person cannot leave the ward, then they can take the researcher on a tour of the ward or the young person can ask the researcher to take photographs on their behalf. After taking the photographs the researcher and young person will return to the ward and print out the photographs. The researcher will then ask the young person to tell them why they took the photograph, what it means to them and and what they like or do not like about the content of the photo.

We will aim to ensure that children and young people can use the three main data collection methods by working with families and adapting these as appropriate. We want to be as inclusive as possible and can use alternative methods for example, by using art activities such as drawing, as a way for children and young people to express their views about their hospital experience.