Campaigns - Better at Home

Better at Home is a new campaign being run jointly by national charity WellChild and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

The campaign is designed to call for improved care for children and young people with long-term complex health care needs. It was sparked by recognition of the plight of many families with children who remain in hospital when their ongoing medical care and general well-being might be better and more cost-effectively managed from home.

The campaign asks:

• Is there a current disparity in health and social care available to these families?
• Do children and young people stay in hospital unnecessarily?
• Would investment in community children’s nurses help to ensure that children and young people go home sooner and have improved coordination of care?

The first stage of the campaign is to map, for the first time, the number of children and young people throughout the UK who remain in hospital when they could be cared for at home – and to establish the barriers which are preventing them from leaving hospital.

In addition, WellChild and RCN are gathering evidence to establish the cost and quality of life benefits of providing care for these children at home.

For all the latest news on the campaign, click here

It is the experience of families that is the most important part of this campaign so we would love to hear from any parent or carer wishing to share their story - please complete the online form or call 0845 458 8171. You can read more about the experiences of some of the families who have already contacted us by clicking here

For more information about the campaign and how you might get involved, please call us on 0845 458 8171 or email campaign@wellchild.org.uk