More aspiration than achievement? Children's complaints and advocacy in health services in Wales.

The present paper reports on key results from a government-funded survey of all National Health Service trusts, local health boards and community health councils in Wales, which was conducted in 2004-2005 to identify the characteristics of complaints involving children, and the use of professional advocacy services in these complaints and their role in supporting children in relation to health service matters more generally. Findings from the survey are presented which reveal the marginal take-up of professional advocacy services in health complaints, and the slender resource in professional advocacy for children commissioned by a small number of health bodies. Advocacy support for users of health services typically focuses upon adult-related issues. The needs of children, particularly those who may have special requirements because of disability, being looked after, or having language or cultural needs are not well met according to the present survey. This raises the question of whether recent policy and guidance on advocacy (particularly for children and vulnerable groups) is seen by health bodies as warranting decisive action and dedicated investment, or whether rhetoric and modest change is the more likely outcome in the face of other pressing demands on health budgets.