Royal Victoria Infirmary

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

We assessed 1 quality statement under the caring key question. Patients were treated with compassion, dignity, and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care. Staff protected patients’ privacy and were aware of the importance of confidentiality.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

Although we were not able to speak with patients directly, we reviewed feedback that had been gathered by the provider from 54 children and young people that had attended the service in 2024. They had used words such as calm, welcoming, friendly, colourful and safe to describe the atmosphere of the SARC. When asked what words best described how they felt after their visit, they stated better, happy, relieved, chilled and cared for.

One child had told staff they had wanted to come back as they had enjoyed their visit so much. Another young person had requested fidget toys be placed in the waiting room and was delighted this had been implemented by staff when they returned for a follow up visit.

Before visiting the service, children and young people could watch a helpful video on the SARC’s website which outlined what to expect when they attended.

Children and young people were always welcomed by one of the nurses when they arrived who took time to explain how the service worked and their role in supporting them throughout their visit. A photograph of a clinician in full PPE in the forensic room was available to show children before they entered, to help reduce any anxiety. Toys were available in the waiting area to help keep children occupied whilst they waited, along with a fridge containing drinks and snacks.

Staff gave us many practical examples of how they supported children and young people to undergo their forensic examinations which included singing along with them, pretending a long-handled swab stick was a magic wand and distracting them with toys. They also spoke of the importance of using appropriate language to explain procedures, and of supporting the often distressed parents and carers, who accompanied their children.

The consultant told us that they could modify their forensic examination if it was clear the child or young person was becoming distressed, and that some could be offered the option of self-swabbing. They also stated they liked to ring patients personally, in response to any freedom of information access requests, so that they could help prepare and support them in response to what might be written in their notes.

Although sited in a busy hospital, access to the SARC was discreet and only one child or young person and their family attended at a time.

The temporary forensic examination room did not have a privacy screen, however staff described to us the practical ways they maintained patients’ dignity throughout their examination. A clear process was in place to ensure intimate images taken during the examination process were managed securely and confidentially. Patients’ paper records were stored securely in a locked administration area and then archived to a secure facility.

Following their visit, patients were given an information leaflet outlining a range of counselling and support services that could be contacted.

The judgement for Treating people as individuals is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Independence, choice and control is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Responding to people’s immediate needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.

The judgement for Workforce wellbeing and enablement is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Caring key question.