Queen Elizabeth Hospital Youth Council Year 1 report

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Youth Council was created after some previous Healthwatch Norfolk research suggested the hospital needed to forge stronger connections with young people within the communities it looks after. 

From June 2024, Healthwatch Norfolk worked with the hospital to create a promotional film and assets for both social and traditional media use to help publicise the Council. This was accompanied by a formal launch organised by the hospital itself. Alongside this, Healthwatch carried out an engagement programme with schools, colleges, youth groups and employers to raise awareness and encourage potential members aged 16 to 25 to join. 

Recruitment was delayed until September 2024 due to the local and then general election and five members were recruited to start off the work of the Youth Council with support from Governors, a non-executive director and an administrator from the hospital, and two members of the Healthwatch Norfolk team. They have since identified their first priorities to work on which are ensuring young members of staff and volunteers have access to buddying when they start work. This was based around both the observations of council members working for the trust, as well as those thinking of working there as an incentive to apply. 

Members also wanted to understand what support is available to patients who may be victims of domestic violence. This followed concerns raised by one member who works in maternity and wanted more information about the help that could be accessed for those being cared for within the hospital. 

Based on the first year of operation, Healthwatch recommend continuing the recruitment process in order to bring on board up to 5 new members three times a year, up to a maximum of 15 members. Communication is key and we recommend the setting up of communications platforms for the Youth Council members to share what they are doing with their peers and the wider community. Linked with this, regularly referring back to the way the Council works through its Terms of Reference and highlighting what it has achieved is key. As the Council works in parallel with the Governors, Healthwatch would also recommend a Governor being seconded to the group to help take things forward alongside the hospital facilitator and it will also help show how the Council fits into the hierarchy of the hospital.