Three quarters of hospitals, including those providing emergency specialist eye services, cannot guarantee the safety of children in their care, the government's health watchdog has warned.
The review of children's hospital services was undertaken by the Healthcare Commission in response to concerns raised over a number of years about the treatment of minors and young people.
Hospitals were assessed on six service types including emergency care, outpatients' services and planned surgery.
The Commission found that 75 per cent of trusts surveyed scored 'fair' or 'weak' for the services they provided to children.
The Royal Eye Infirmary (Plymouth Hospitals) and the Western Eye Clinic were rated as having failed to assure inspectors that they had undertaken remedial action to improve services for children.
Meanwhile, Moorfields Eye Hospital Foundation Trust scored 'fair', meaning that it had met all the minimum standards and expectations of patients, but the Commission felt there was room for improvement in certain areas.
Commenting on the findings Sir Ian Kennedy, chairman of the Healthcare Commission, said: 'The Commission will be asking all trusts to assure themselves and the populations they serve that their children's services are fit for purpose.'