Young get say on health plan

GROUP CONSULTED ABOUT HOSPITALS

A YOUNG people’s group has put its weight behind the public consultation to transform hospital and maternity services.

The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was set up by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) in November, with support from Leicester City Council.

Members, aged between 13 and 21, are committed to help shape health and wellbeing services for children and young people.

The group’s latest meeting heard about the Building Better Hospitals for the Future proposals to spend £450 million on making significant changes to improve care at the three main hospitals in Leicester and at the maternity unit at St Mary’s Hospital, Melton.

Members pledged to share the consultation survey within their schools and colleges, as well as with friends and peers.

Emily Robertshaw, of the partnership trust, who runs the YAB with Bez Martin, from the city council, said: “Over the past 10 months, the YAB has contributed to several service improvement projects at the trust, specifically focused on the mental health and wellbeing of young people and digital health resources.

“The group is passionate about ensuring the quality and future of health services in our region and their participation in this consultation is a reflection of that.”

Nicky Topham, from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “We really want to encourage young people to share their views with us about the changes we are proposing, which will improve our hospitals for the years to come.

“We were blown away by how deeply the YAB had thought about the proposals for Leicester’s hospitals.

“They have given us an excellent insight into young people’s needs when they’re in hospital, and how to provide an appropriate environment with the right ‘look and feel’ for patients under 18.”