Don't box me in - young people-friendly services in Gateshead and Newcastle
Download (PDF 634.02 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Gateshead and Newcastle-upon-Tyne undertook research into what young people wanted from health care services after receiving negative feedback about the way in which they were treated by healthcare professionals. They developed a survey to which 71 people responded.
Young people reported that all services were very easy to access, including outside school or college hours and by public transport. Dentists were seen as the easiest service to access, and mental health services were seen as a service young people needed to access but could not due to their unknown location and distance to travel.
Most respondents didn’t know that they had any choice, including that they could ask to be seen by a male or female member of staff. There was a mixed picture of communication – with dentists being the most difficult to understand, but sexual health services the easiest. Young people felt that GP and hospital staff didn’t always appear to take them seriously and explain things properly.
The report contains four recommendations to address the issues raised in the report.