A group of 16 to 25-year-olds will continue to ensure the voice of young people is heard at one of Norfolk’s hospitals.
The Youth Council at King’s Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital is continuing to grow with opportunities to join three times a year, along with a communications programme to make sure the many communities looked after by the hospital know what the council is doing.
These are two of the recommendations in a report just published by Healthwatch Norfolk recapping the work of the council in its first year.
You can find it at www.healthwatchnorfolk.co.uk/reports/queen-elizabeth-hospital-youth-council-year-one
What is the QEH Youth Council?
The organisation, which gathers the views of people in the county about their health and social care, worked with the hospital to help set up the Youth Council to help it ensure the voice of young people was fed into its services.
It worked with the hospital to create a promotional film and other materials to make young people aware of the council.
A publicity and engagement programme was also put in place talking to schools, colleges, youth groups and employers to raise awareness and encourage potential members to join.
Recruitment was delayed until September 2024 due to the local and then general election and five members were recruited to start off the work of the Youth Council with support from Governors, a non-executive director and an administrator from the hospital, and two members of the Healthwatch Norfolk team.
What are the council’s priorities?
The council members have since identified their first priorities to work on which are ensuring young members of staff and volunteers have access to buddying when they start work.
Members also wanted to understand what support is available to patients who may be victims of domestic violence. This followed concerns raised by one member who works in maternity who wanted more information about the help that could be accessed for those being cared for within the hospital.
They have also identified some other things they want to investigate in more detail in the months ahead. These are:
- Public health. How education of different aspects of public health could help QEH patients who are receiving treatment as well as having a prevention role in the community.
- The development of the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Helping to ensure the under-25s have a say in how the new building is developed.
- Helping to increase awareness of the opportunities and career paths available for young people within the QEH, particularly among apprenticeships. Members felt people were often unaware of the employment opportunities available particularly among those who wanted to learn new skills.
- Digital methods of accessing health. Youth councillors were keen to highlight and support methods of ensuring their peers were aware of or using technology such as the NHS App or the Shared Care Record.
Reaction
Dr Rebecca Martin, Medical Director at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: “Hearing directly from young people is vital to shaping a hospital that truly reflects the needs of the whole community. The Youth Council has already shown how their insight and energy can drive meaningful change, and we’re proud to continue supporting their growth and influence across our services.”
Alex Stewart, CEO of Healthwatch Norfolk, added; “We now have 10 members of the council and aim to increase that number by a further third this autumn. In the meantime, they have identified the areas they want to look at and will start looking at those in more detail during the summer and autumn, as well as set up social media channels so people can get regular updates on their work.”
