The lady of the notebook: hospital ethnography as a method to capture the voice of children and young people

Hospital ethnography has long been an anthropological approach to exploring healthcare settings, yielding valuable insights and informing clinical practice; however, its application in paediatric hospitals remains limited. Stepping into a paediatric hospital as an ethnographer provided an opportunity to understand the dynamics of play from the perspective of Children and Young People. This research involved observing their interactions with Health Play Professionals and conducting play-based interviews. This paper explains the methodological processes involved in child-focused hospital ethnography and outlines the inherent challenges of conducting such research in a complex, not-so-playful environment. Ethnographic examples of playful interactions and personal reflections on the challenging and emotional nature of the project are shared. Refinements and adjustments to the methodology are also discussed. These lessons and reflections aim to assist those interested in, or considering, conducting child-focused hospital ethnography. The paper also showcases a methodological approach that foregrounds children's perspectives and amplifies their voices within a hospital context, potentially leading to improved experiences and outcomes in paediatric healthcare.