A frog called Fabio is set to revolutionise the way sick kids give feedback about their care while in hospital, thanks to a Queensland-first trial being funded by Wishlist.

The $65,000 trial will be funded through proceeds from The House The Coast Built, and use an electronic survey system called ‘Fabio the Frog.’

The app was specifically designed by and for paediatric patients and their parents, and will collect feedback and drive quality improvement throughout the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.

SCHHS Engagement Officer Graham Reeks applied for the funding through Wishlist and described the project as imperative.

“Children make up 32,500 of the patients seen throughout the Hospital and Health Service every year, yet their views and experiences are not captured reported on,” Mr Reeks said.

Paediatric Ward Nursing Unit Manager Anne-Maree Holmes said the project will help staff to make the hospital stay of young patients as smooth and positive as possible.

“This program will help us to continue to enhance the care provided for our most precious patients, by gaining their experience and feedback. This is particularly important while we transition to the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital also,” Ms Holmes said.

The ‘Fabio the Frog’ app was designed in the United Kingdom and is widely used in the health system there.

Adelaide is the only centre in Australia to trial the system to date and has reported a high success rate in using the app which has led to the health service there purchasing a statewide licence.

“The app is essentially a survey platform with a cartoon featuring a little frog that does funny and silly things that appeal to young people,” Mr Reeks said.

“Throughout the cartoon Fabio the Frog stops and asks children how comfortable they feel on the ward for example, or what they think of the lunch they were just served. These may sound like small things, but no one is asking this questions in a way that we can record answers and go on to make the appropriate changes that may be necessary,” he said.

Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said it was extremely exciting to be able to commit to the project with some of the $304,000 profit made through the auction of The House The Coast Built on Valentine’s Day.

“The House The Coast Built was focused on raising money for paediatric services and when this funding application came across my desk I knew it would be a wonderful fit for our commitment to child health on the Coast,” Ms Rowe said.

“No other health service in Queensland has attempted to trial this, so it puts our local Hospital and Health Service on the map in this space, and it’s a wonderful example of how community fundraising can be used to directly benefit patients throughout the Sunshine Coast,” she said.

8-year old patient Noah Suesee was the first paediatric patient to trial the app.

Noah has already spent three weeks on Ward 2FW in traction, after breaking his femur in a horse riding accident, and has at least another three weeks left in hospital.

“My horse is actually called Fabio too, so I’m looking forward to meeting the frog called Fabio – hopefully he’s a little kinder to me!” Noah laughed.