and is a Family-centred care (FCC) is a term
familiar to all who work in paediatric health care world
wide. Most insiitutions (hospitals, clinics, long-stay
facilities and ambulatory and primary care units) where
children are cared for have either a formal, written
policy about FCC, or will espouse the concept
informally and most paediatric health professionals
will say that their practice is underpinned by FCC.
However, while a large body of literature about FCC
exists, in the main it is untested by rigorous research
(Shields, Pratt, Davis & Hunter, 2007). In addition,
and because of the lack of evidence about it, its
widespread use must be examined critically (Shields,
2010). As Darbyshire said in 1994, FCC is a
wonderful ideal, but difficult to implement
effectively