Parental satisfaction with a nurse-led emergency assessment unit.

Parents of children discharged from the paediatric emergency assessment unit of a large regional children’s unit were surveyed to discover their perceptions of the care experience and post discharge support. Data from 40 parents revealed that the family journey through the unit was generally positive, although not without problems. The majority of children were referred from their general practitioner, and most were seen by a paediatrician within an hour of arrival. Morning-after phone calls and 24-hour access after discharge increased family satisfaction. However, nearly a third of families reported they were not shown the facilities of the unit and just under half mentioned lack of privacy as a concern. An action plan to address these issues has been subsequently implemented and will be evaluated periodically.