In the run up to the 2017 general election, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust decided to change that.
Social workers from Newton Lodge, the Trust’s medium secure unit in Wakefield, worked with the Yorkshire and Humber Involvement Network to host a visit to the unit by prospective local MPs who met with service users.
The hustings were attended by 26 people, who heard speeches from the prospective parliamentary candidates representing all of the parties, then had a chance to ask questions.
Questions were thought-provoking and covered issues as diverse as mental health funding, taxes, the impact of Brexit, transport and the proposed HS2, and national security.
This event gave service users the opportunity to hear about the policies being put forward by the politicians, and also gave them support in how to register to vote. The husting was finished off with a mock vote where service users were given the opportunity to try voting, in some cases for the first time.
Service users said they appreciated being involved in the ‘real world’ and having the news brought into the hospital for them. One of the patients also said that he had never voted before and the event made him think about how politics affects the world we are in.
The prospective parliamentary candidates said they were pleased to have been invited and see the good work that goes on in Newton Lodge, with many interested in coming back for a more thorough and detailed tour of the Fieldhead site.
Find out more about the work of the Trust at www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk