Review of children’s inpatient services – public meetings

Patients, families, carers and staff are invited to go along to their local events, which are being organised by NHS Lothian and held in East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian.

Eight meetings – two events in each area of Lothian – will be held to ensure people who are interested in hospital care for children have their chance to express their views.

NHS Lothian will ensure that all feedback gathered at these meetings is formally submitted to our external and independent review team for inclusion in their process before the deadline for feedback and submissions of 18 March.

NHS Lothian has asked the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to conduct an independent expert review of inpatient hospital services for children.

The team of experts at the RCPCH is carrying out an extensive and robust analysis of the current service to ensure that NHS Lothian can continue to deliver safe, effective and sustainable patient care.

The college has already been gathering views through an online survey and a series of intense focus groups held with patients, parents and carers.

In addition to this engagement activity being carried out by the RCPCH, NHS Lothian will be collecting all of the comments and feedback from the public meeting and passing these on to the review team to form part of the evidence base.

Jim Crombie, Chief Officer of Acute Services, NHS Lothian, said: “The safety of children has to be our top priority and we are committed to this review to gain an independent and expert view on the best way to deliver services in Lothian.

“We need to provide a safe and sustainable service and we need patients, parents, carers and staff to help us do that by taking part in the review and providing their opinions and experiences of paediatric care.

“I would encourage anyone who has opinions or suggestions around children’s inpatient services to come along to one of these meetings. We are particularly keen to hear the views of parents, carers and young people who have used the service in the last 18 months.”

Bleachingfield Centre, Dunbar

Thursday 3 March – 1pm

Fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh

Thursday 10 March – 6.30pm

Dalkeith Arts Centre, Dalkeith

Wednesday 9 March – 6.30pm

Penicuik Town Hall, Penicuik

Wednesday 16 March – 10am

Leith Community Education Centre, Newkirkgate

Monday 14 March – 6.30pm

Faith Mission, Gilmerton Road

Tuesday 15 March – 1pm

Howden Park Centre, Livingston

Monday 7 March – 6.30pm

Howden Park Centre, Livingston

Wednesday 9 March – 2pm.

For more information on the RCPCH Review and to complete the confidential online survey, which will continue to run until the end of the review, visit the RCPCH website.​