#SpeakUP: Saalik Youth Project
Download (PDF 586.76 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Sheffield provided a small grant to the Saalik Youth Project to find out the health and social care experience of Pakistani young people living in Burngreave, a deprived part of Sheffield. They held conversations with their boys and girls groups in July 2023, speaking to 26 young people altogether.
The young people identified that positive experiences of care involved efficiency, flexibility and good treatment explanations. Less positive experiences involved GP appointment systems that don’t fit round school, college or work, difficulty accessing NHS dentists, the location of services, the way in which professionals interact with them, waiting times, poor support services in schools, the rising cost of living and cultural barriers.
The groups also explored where they would go to find information about health and wellbeing. Almost all said they would go online, especially using the NHS app and the NHS website and using NHS 111. They also mentioned traditional or home remedies recommended by older relatives. They felt that social media had an overall negative impact on their health.
The report includes five recommendations about flexibility, communication, interpreting, seeing a workforce that reflects their community and good quality online advice.