Youth Fest Engagement Report

Healthwatch Redbridge gathered feedback from 30 young people at Youth Fest in August 2026 to understand their experiences of local health services. The most common concerns related to booking GP appointments, long waiting times and the stress of waiting in healthcare settings. Several young people described difficulties getting through to GP practices, limited appointment availability and frustration with automated booking systems. Some also suggested that waiting areas should be more sensory-friendly. 

Communication with healthcare professionals was another significant theme. Some young people reported struggling to understand what doctors were telling them or finding it difficult to explain their symptoms. Dental services attracted particularly negative feedback, with comments about difficulty obtaining appointments and concerns that some dental professionals did not communicate in a reassuring or supportive way during treatment. 

Feedback about hospital care focused on organisation and delays. One young person felt patients were waiting too long for scans, while another was unhappy about being asked to change GP practice because of borough boundaries despite being satisfied with their current doctor. These examples reflected wider concerns about access to services and continuity of care. 

Healthwatch recommended improving youth-friendly communication, keeping patients informed about delays, exploring sensory-friendly waiting arrangements, reviewing telephone access at GP practices and working with dental providers to improve reassurance and explanations during appointments. Broader issues such as appointment availability, waiting times and GP registration arrangements were identified for escalation to NHS organisations and system partners because they require action beyond individual providers.