Listening to young people to help ensure NHS services are right for them is the focus of new ‘Hopes for Healthcare’ at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust – and now’s the chance for other children and young people to give their feedback.

The Trust’s Youth Forum has worked hard over the last year to develop the Hopes for Healthcare as they are passionate about making healthcare services accessible and relevant to children, young people and their families/carers.

The Hopes cover areas including making children and young people feel welcome, ensuring they understand their healthcare rights, ensuring they’re fully involved in their care, and are able to transition easily to adult services when that time comes. They also set out what young people can expect when it comes to effective two-way communication, feedback and shaping services, and starting early with health education.

Now, the Youth Forum is engaging with as many children and young people as possible to get their views on the Hopes. This is being done face-to-face across hospital and the Trust’s community services, with information and a quick survey also available on online at www.hdft.nhs.uk/youth which anyone can access.

Tom Kirk, a member of the HDFT Youth Forum, said: “We are passionate about making health care accessible to children and young people. Our Hopes for Healthcare aim to make this happen. For youth. From the youth.”

The Trust provides hospital services for children and young people in Harrogate district, and community Healthy Child Programme services across North Yorkshire, County Durham, Darlington, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees.

Richard Chillery, Operational Director for Children’s and County Wide Community Care Directorate at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our Youth Forum provides young people with the opportunity to contribute their ideas, engage with decision makers and contribute to improving the lives of young people within their communities.

“We are passionate about making healthcare accessible to children and young people. Through developing these Hopes for Healthcare, we are actively engaging young people in decision making and giving them the opportunity to influence service development. We are strongly encouraging young people right across our patch to get involved and give us their views.

“In addition, if you work with young people and would like your group or service to be more involved in helping to shape NHS services, then please get in touch with us via youth.forum@hdft.nhs.uk. The Youth Forum needs your help to reach out to children and young people who use the Trust’s services.”

The online survey closes on Monday 4 June 2018.