Young people in Bournemouth have their say!
Bournemouth LINk has been working in partnership with Sussed Youth Advisory Project to
produce a report on young people’s views of health and social care services.
This project was undertaken and the report compiled by Phil Watson (age 21) & Lauren Clark (age 20).
Background to the project
Bournemouth LINk received a number of concerns, from young people in the Bournemouth area, that their voice was seldom heard on matters appertaining to health & social care issues.
The aim of the Links project was to gain young peoples’ positive and negative views as well as their experiences of local Health and Social Care provisions. Also to suggest any improvements they feel would be necessary to provide a better service for the public.
We gained young peoples’ insight through consultation sessions at various Youth Clubs around Bournemouth and Youth Advice Centre groups for young people.
100 young people took part in the Links project, however not all young people wanted to be entered for the prize draw.
Responses from the young people:
Dentists/Orthodontists:
Positive comments/experiences:
- For my dentist I don’t have to wait too long to see them.
- My dentist is friendly.
- My dentist is clear and explains everything.
- The dentist is always clean.
- My dentist is about 5 minutes walk from my house, so it is handy that it is local.
- I have regular orthodontist appointments; they are always on time and explain my treatment clearly.
Negative comments/experiences:
- I had to wait a long time for a referral appointment from my dentist to my orthodontist.
- My dentist is not friendly.
- Can be costly for treatment as well as check –ups.
- They do not spend much time with each of their patients.
- More funding so there are more resources.
- They should talk to each other more so dentists and orthodontists so that they can provide the best care for their patients.
Social workers/Midwives/Young mum groups and other children services:
Positive comments/experiences:
- I had a social worker whilst I was pregnant; she was really helpful and explained anything I didn’t understand.
- Social workers are caring and approachable.
- My midwife would keep in contact with me always ensuring I was well and made me feel important.
- I go to the young mums group at Sussed Youth Advisory Centre and I get to meet other young mums and listen to their experiences and we help each other.
- The staffs at the Sussed’s young mums group are helpful, supportive and caring.
- As a young parent I found my midwife and my nurse were very helpful and did not judge me because of my age.
- The young mum’s group at the Henry Brown is very useful as it is local and at a great time which suits me.
- Midwives are caring and understanding.
Negative comments/experiences:
- Lack of funding for midwives.
- Social services never have much time for each individual.
- My midwife is often late to our appointments because they were short staffed.
- I think that there should be more young mum groups for local young parents.
- I think there should be more midwives and social workers so they can spend more time with each patient and their baby, which will make them feel more important.
Health Clinics
Positive comments/experiences:
- I have been to The Junction for sexual health advice and I was seen straight away.
- Friendly staff.
- The staff makes you feel comfortable and approachable.
- It’s easy to get free condoms at my local youth advice centre Sussed.
- Sussed Youth Advisory Centre has two time periods where they offer a sexual health clinic which is helpful for young people.
- Short waiting times
- Sussed is a calming and friendly environment.
- It is a free service.
Negative comments/experiences:
- As Sussed is shut, I have had to travel into town for other clinics, however sometimes I cannot afford to.
- There needs to be more youth advice centres like Sussed which offer sexual health advice and tests.
- Clinics need to be open for longer hours on weekends.
- When I have been to The Junction, I have had to wait a long time before being seen.
Hospitals:
Positive comments/experiences:
- AAU at Bournemouth hospital is amazing because of their helpful staff.
- When I called an ambulance it arrived quickly.
- A confidential service.
- The hospital staff made me feel comfortable.
- Free hospitals unlike other countries.
- They were quick at finding out what was wrong with me and treated me quickly.
Negative comments/experiences:
- I had to wait 6 hours in hospital for a bed.
- Waiting time in A&E and hospitals is too long.
- Appointment times to see doctors in A&E are slow.
- Hospital food is not up to standard.
- Hospitals seem to be short staffed a lot of the time.
- There is no child ward at Bournemouth hospital, my daughter could not be helped at Bournemouth and I was sent to Poole hospital.
- Not enough resources.
- Not enough funding for hospitals.
- Need more hospital staff to help with the work load and then more time can be spent with patients.
- Hospitals need to reduce waiting times.
GPs/Doctors Surgeries:
Positive comments/experiences:
- Friendly environment.
- I can call my doctors up in the morning and get an appointment that day or the next day, they are very quick to back an appointment with the doctor.
- Helpful.
- My doctor explained what was wrong and explained my medication dose and what it will do.
- It is always clean.
Negative comments/experiences:
- My GP never on time for my appointments.
- GPs do not spend enough time with their patients.
- It’s hard to book an appointment with my GP.
- As a young person I do not feel entirely comfortable going to my GP about medical and other problems.
- GP should spend more time with patients.
- There should be more GP surgeries to see more patients and then it will cut down waiting times and booking appointments.
What did the young people achieve as a result of the Links project?
The young people who took part in the links project were able to express their views. As in several instances young people’s opinions are often overlooked, it was great to be able to find out what their thoughts were on the NHS services. By the young people having their say and being consulted will have made them feel included as well as feeling important because they are being asked and being listened too.
With the young people we consulted in the youth groups, we not only got the views of what the young people thought but they were sharing their views and experiences with us but with other young people. So the young people were able to meet other young people which have had similar experiences. They also worked on their communication and listening skills.
Lastly, the young people then got to see where their views, experiences and ideas for improvements were going and what they were being used for. Some of the young people also then found out about the different NHS services as many did not realise it was more than just the hospitals.
Further information
This report has been sent to Bournemouth Borough Council; NHS Bournemouth & Poole PCT; Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust and Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospital Trust for comment.
LINks would normally make recommendations to the appropriate provider or commissioner of service. On this occasion, as a result of this report and the comments received by young people, the LINk is undertaking a wider survey with young people (25 and under) and asking them their views on health and social care services in Bournemouth.
Please take part and “speak out” on Health & Social Care issues in Bournemouth!
Contact us
If you would like to tell us your story, please contact Bournemouth LINk on:
-
Telephone: 0300 111 0102 (Calls to 03 numbers are charged at no more than UK geographic rates (as for 01 and 02 numbers) and will be included as part of any inclusive minutes. Calls from mobiles may be higher.)
-
Email:
contact@makesachange.org.uk
-
Address: LINks, Freepost BH1902, 896 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH7 6BR
If you would like extra copies of this report or a version in a different format, larger print, then please contact us.