title: Respite care in seven families with children with complex care needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the experience of nursing respite care in families caring for children with complex health needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven mothers took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews, which were taped, transcribed and coded. Results were categorised thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Families described a positive impact on all aspects of life, the high value of respite care and the preference for more information, flexibility, choice and co-ordination of the different services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respite care is highly beneficial to family life, but there need to be clearer communication lines and a stable, flexible and adequately resourced workforce. Families value a single point of contact and would prefer more respite care to be available.
authors.affiliation: Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Newport, Wales. Sian.Thomas14@wales.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Melda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012144:Respite Care; D006113:United Kingdom