At the level of the individual child

The behaviour of nurses and doctors towards children can have a major impact on their health. Too often, children are treated without respect, their views are disregarded, they are denied information and they are not involved in decisions about their own care. This makes it harder for children to talk to doctors or other health workers and to get the treatment they need. Negative attitudes can contribute to fear, distress, anxiety and helplessness in children, with negative impact both on their access to care and their potential recovery.