Children and young people (CYP) are over a third of our population but 100% of our future and must be considered in all aspects of our work in London. According to the 2020 CQC survey, only 47% of CYP feel they are involved in their healthcare decisions. How can we get this to 95%?
Working with our Youth Steering Group, we launched the Our Voice, Our Care campaign. Aiming to uplift the voices and experiences of children and young people in healthcare and create change to:
• empower young people to know that they have rights in healthcare, and they can expect to be listened to and engaged with by professionals #OurVoiceOurCare
• motivate healthcare professionals to improve their engagement skills and build positive relationships with young people #YourVoiceYourCare
A coproduced youth-led event was held in July 2022 at Spotlight, a state-of-the-art youth club in Tower Hamlets, one of the most deprived boroughs in north-east London. Fifteen young people led on event planning and facilitation, with NHS and other colleagues there to support. On the day, young members of Spotlight took pictures and filmed the reverse panel, resulting in our campaign video.
The event consisted of:
• rotating workshops facilitated by young people on topics including mental health, power dynamics and health care, building trust, confidence and relationships with health care professionals, and accessibility in care
• performances from young leaders including spoken word and personal storytelling
• live illustrations done by a cartoonist
• a quiz for young people on their healthcare rights and how they can be better supported to exercise them
• a reverse panel of young experts who answered questions from healthcare professionals in the audience on their experiences and insights into future care
The reverse panel posed a new way of thinking and power dynamic switch where the young patients are the experts.
This work has role modelled to the system that young people can and do lead the work in sharing what matters most to them. We are working collectively to spread and embed these messages at every opportunity to improve experiences of care.
What young people learned
1. Young people have rights in their healthcare “I have rights over my care and I am allowed to voice my opinions over my care.”
2. The importance of sharing stories with others and speaking up “[I learned] How much of a change we can make if we work together.”
3. A better understanding of the NHS
4. Improved relationships with healthcare providers “Don’t be afraid to trust adults working in the NHS.
Traditionally, it is common for youth events to be organised by professionals and attended by young people. This initiative stands out because it was youth-led and the professionals were guests rather than hosts, completely switching power dynamics.
“The campaign reinforced the need to empower young people to know that they have rights in healthcare and for the need for professionals to listen to what our young people have to say. The room was full of passionate young people across London who want to see changes in our healthcare system and we hope to provide a platform for more youth led events working with NHS England in the future” – Mohammed Motin, Spotlight Youth Worker
More information available here and below https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/london-clinical-networks/our-networks/london-babies-children-and-young-peoples-transformation-team/youth-engagement-and-voice/
You can read the full project report HERE
The shared decision making engagement report is HERE
The campaign toolkit is HERE
