Parents, carers and children across NSW will benefit from a new hospital initiative aimed at better supporting parents to raise concerns about their child's condition if they feel it is getting worse.
The new tool will require healthcare workers to regularly ask families: 'Are you worried they are getting worse?' to help capture important changes in their child's condition.
The question will be embedded in paediatric and neonatal observation charts in emergency department and inpatient units across the state.
The potentially life-saving tool Worried they're getting worse is based on new research from Monash Health and developed by the Clinical Excellence Commission, and recognises parents, families and carers know their children best.
The question recognises that parents and carers are oftentimes able to detect early changes or deterioration in their child's behaviour or temperament that could signal a clinical concern.
If parents or caregivers indicate they believe their child is getting worse or deteriorating, it will trigger a review by a senior healthcare worker.
All NSW public hospitals will implement the tool by October 2025 and the program will be extended into maternity and adult wards in early 2026.
The tool was first trialled at Hunter New England Local Health District in March 2025 and began its statewide rollout at Sydney Children's Hospital Network on 21 July 2025.
Separately, the REACH program is also available for parents and carers when they have concerns their child is becoming seriously unwell. A REACH call prompts an urgent patient review by a senior health worker. This program continues to be accessible in all NSW hospitals with work underway to strengthen this safety net.
Quotes attributable to NSW Health Minister Ryan Park:
"When you bring your child into our hospitals, we know that you know them best.
"Parents and carers can recognise small changes in a child's condition sometimes before healthcare workers can observe changes in things like heart rate or breathing.
"Feedback from parents and carers is critical in capturing information about a child who is becoming seriously unwell.
"When your doctor or nurse asks: 'Are you worried they're getting worse?' we need you to tell us even if it is something small, because if you're worried, we're worried."
Quotes attributable to Member for Coogee Marjorie O'Neill:
"The statewide rollout of this new tool will empower everyone, including parents and caregivers, to speak up when they have a concern about a loved one who is receiving care and is getting worse.
"At any time when a nurse or a doctor asks you this question, rest assured your concerns will be listened to and they will check your child's clinical condition with the nurse in charge."
Quotes attributable to Secretary of NSW Health, Susan Pearce AM:
"We know staff right across the NSW public health system work incredibly hard to deliver the highest quality of care for patients and we need to ensure the right systems are in place that support them to continue to do so.
"Really listening to parents, carers and family members is critical when caring for children in hospital and this new initiative recognises the vital role they play in their child's care alongside our excellent healthcare professionals.
"By working together, we can strengthen patient safety for children and babies and provide an environment where parents and carers are encouraged and empowered to raise concerns."
