This research is intended to increase understanding of the views and experiences of children aged 6-15 years having heart surgery, their needs, hopes and fears, in order that parents and practitioners may provide children with more research-based information and support. The aim is to contribute to ways of involving children in the decision making process before heart surgery, so that their acceptance or consent, as well as their parents’ consent, are well informed and voluntary. The research will also examine children’s, parents and staff views about the age of consent, and when children become competent to give consent to heart surgery ‘as well as their parents can’
