| Summary: Looks at how the health care needs of disabled children and young people are met by the commissioners and providers of health care in England. Looks particularly at the availability of specialist health services, assessing the quality of support in a geographical area, and the aspects of the care pathway that are of particular importance to families. Uses views and experiences of both disabled children and their families, as well as survey data from commissioners and acute hospitals about services provided between September 2009 and September 2010. Found various barriers to involvement in and access to services, including waiting too long for access to services or diagnosis. Families felt services did not work well together and did not feel they had been consulted on their care. There was a significant disparity between the experiences of the children and families, which were negative, and the data supplied by the PCTs which showed high levels of access and user-centred care. |
