Healthcare professionals across the UK are set to benefit from a groundbreaking new tool designed to protect children's rights during medical procedures. The Edge Hill University-led iSupport collaboration has launched its innovative Rights-based Standards Checklist ahead of International Children's Day 2025.
A New Approach to Child-Centred Care
The credit card-sized checklist, small enough to be carried on lanyards, features nine core statements based on iSupport's Rights-Based Standards. This practical tool enables healthcare teams to briefly pause, check and agree on key steps before conducting any test, treatment or examination involving children.
Professor Lucy Bray, Professor of Child Health Literacy at Edge Hill University and iSupport lead, explained the urgent need for this initiative. "Our work has demonstrated that children frequently experience avoidable distress during medical procedures," she stated. "This can lead to developing fears about healthcare interactions and even trauma."
Bridging the Gap in Healthcare Practice
Professor Bray highlighted significant gaps in current practice, noting that techniques such as building trust, preparing children adequately and using distraction methods aren't consistently applied. "The Checklist helps healthcare professionals pause and plan, potentially avoiding the use of restraint with distressed children," she emphasised.
The iSupport collaboration, comprising 50 professionals and experts across 16 countries, has designed the tool specifically for busy healthcare environments. Research supporting safety and quality initiatives shows that brief, structured check-ins can significantly improve communication, enhance teamwork and reduce preventable harm to patients.
From Local Implementation to Global Impact
Local staff at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, including teams at Ormskirk Hospital, were the first to receive the new checklists and lanyards. The initiative now extends to hospital trusts across England, Southern Ireland and internationally.
Healthcare organisations and professionals are being invited to implement the checklist in their workplaces, translating rights-based standards into everyday practice. The iSupport website provides complementary free resources for both families and professionals, including preparation sheets for children and practical case studies.
Edge Hill University, which offers Nursing and Midwifery Council-approved nursing courses across multiple specialisms, continues to drive innovation in healthcare education and practice through initiatives like iSupport.
