Patient Feedback
At SickKids, we believe that a positive patient and family experience happens through good communication, mutual respect, and true partnership between patients, families, and staff. We care about your experience and want to hear from you.
Patient and Family Relations provides a safe space where you can provide feedback – including sharing concerns, comments, suggestions, or compliments – about your care experience.
Expand the sections below to learn more about Patient and Family Relations. As a patient or family member you have the right to respect, communication and partnership. Learn more about the rights and responsibilities for patients and families at SickKids.
- Provide a safe, supportive environment where you can share your comments, suggestions, and concerns.
- Listen to and support you through your experience.
- Help you get the information you need.
- Respond to your concern and offer assistance to resolve issues or problems.
- Investigate any concerns related to discrimination and racism in the delivery of care to you or your child.
- Assist everyone to communicate effectively with each other – patients, families, and staff.
- Ensure your feedback is shared with your health-care teams.
- When you have a compliment for staff.
- When you want to share your ideas or suggestions.
- When you want to know more about your rights.
- When you need help communicating with your health-care team.
- When you would like further follow-up or did not feel satisfied after expressing a concern to your health-care team.
- When you have concerns or grievances about services or interactions with staff.
- When you would like to talk about your experience privately.
We are committed to working with you in a consistent, fair, and timely way to enhance your experience. When you contact us, we will follow these steps:
Step 1: We receive your message and acknowledge receipt within three business days.
Step 2: We listen to you to understand your feedback and discuss next steps, which could include sharing your feedback or launching a review.
Step 3: We begin the review by communicating with the appropriate staff and reviewing records to better understand what occurred.
Step 4: We identify the issues and work with you and/or those involved in your experience to identify the best solution.
If you feel that your concerns have not been properly addressed or you are unsatisfied with your outcome, you can ask to speak to the Senior Manager and/or the Director of Patient and Family Relations.
Have feedback? We're here to listen.
If you have a question, comment, concern or compliment, please let us know. We ask you to share these with you care team or unit manager; however, if this is not possible, please contact Patient and Family Relations and we will help support you in your journey at SickKids.
Email us at patient.relations@sickkids.ca.
Call us at 416-813-6181.
Find us in-person through the Family Centre on the main hospital floor of the Black Wing, room M223. We may not be in the office because we are with another family; in this case please let one of the Family Centre staff know to have us contact you, or contact us using another method listed.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Go to Map & Directions for more.
Complete the Patient Feedback Form.
We can provide alternate format or telecommunication tools to help you provide feedback about your patient experience. Contact us by email or phone:
Email: accessibility.questions@sickkids.ca
Phone: Call our Accessibility Contact at 416-813-7654 ext. 228315.
Patient & Family Experience Survey
You may get an email from experience@survey.sickkids.ca, asking you to complete a survey about your recent experience (e.g., clinic appointment, procedure, or hospital stay) at SickKids.
Contact Patient and Family Relations
Complete the Patient Feedback Form
You can contact Patient and Family Relations by completing the Patient Feedback Form.
Patient and Family Relations Intake Coordinator
Phone: 416-813-6181
Email: patient.relations@sickkids.ca
Karen Sappleton (she/her), MSED, MSW, RSW
Senior Manager, Child and Family-Centred Care & Health Equity:
Patient and Family Relations, The Family Centre, Interpreter Services
Phone: 416-813-7654 ext. 428375
Email: karen.sappleton@sickkids.ca
Mailing address
Patient and Family Relations
555 University Avenue
Room M223, Main Floor, Black Wing (in the Family Centre)
Toronto, ON
M5G 1X8