Turning insights into impact: Author Q&A on Voices Unheard white paper

With over 15 years of experience as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS, Dr Vicky Queralt has dedicated her career to supporting children, young people, and their families. She has particular interest in supporting individuals who are neurodivergent and/or have a physical health condition.  

Vicky was one of the authors and co-host of our Spotlight Sessions podcast which inspired the publication of Voices Unheard: Parents of Autistic Children in Paediatric Care based on the insights and stories shared by parents.  From emotional conversations to building a framework designed to really make a difference, she shared some key reflections on what this experience meant to her.

We sat down with Vicky to learn more about her experience filming the podcast and writing the paper, and the impact she hopes it will have on the healthcare system.

Why did you start the podcast?

For a long time, Megan and I often talked about how to compassionately support and empower families with solutions that might help ease the challenges they face juggling life, especially those caring for a neurodivergent child or a child with a health condition. So, when Little Journey asked us to co-host the Spotlight Session podcast, I was genuinely excited. it felt completely aligned with my values and my desire to help families feel seen, heard, and supported."

What key themes stood out to you after talking to these families?

Strength, struggles and solidarity. The familles we spoke to weren't just focused on getting through their own challenges, they were thinking about others too. That really stuck with me. They wanted to improve things for the next family, the next child. Their determination and generosity in the face of everything they were navigating (appointments, uncertainty, school, work) was honestly incredible. These weren't just Interviews. They were acts of courage and compassion.

Why did you write the white paper?

Writing a white paper wasn't even on our radar the start. But after hearing those stories and sitting with the depth of what familles shared, it just felt right. We knew we had to do more than listen-we had to capture their experiences and use them to spark change. We wanted to highlight the real challenges familles face and offer ideas that could genuinely help.

What do you hope this white paper will achieve?

Our hope is that healthcare professionals can read this and come away with more than just knowledge, we hope they come away with understanding. That they see the system from the family's perspective and feel empowered to make small changes that add up to a big difference. It's not about being perfect; it's about being open, compassionate, and willing to do things a little differently when it matters most

This white paper explores the often-overlooked experiences of parents navigating healthcare systems with their autistic children. These findings call attention to the urgent need for systemic reform. Advocating for more inclusive, compassionate, and individualised care practices at every level. The paper positions parent voices not just as sources of insight, but as essential drivers of change within paediatric healthcare. 

Download our white paper and read about the changes you can implement in your organisation to better support all paediatric patients.