Young patients frequently report that their views go unheard in health services. But from April 2013, local and national consumer champion “Healthwatch” bodies will be charged with making sure that does not happen.
Last month, the Local Government Association (LGA) published a briefing for local authorities to promote their role in establishing Healthwatch organisations and engaging with children and young people.
The document includes recommendations about how to work with young people, examples of best practice and information on safeguarding. The LGA hopes the timing of the briefing’s publication will ensure children and young people are involved from the outset.
“Working with children and young people is not optional,” says Lorraine Denoris, programme director for Healthwatch at the LGA. “It’s important local authorities think about how they are going to integrate children and young people’s voices into their local Healthwatches, which is why we’ve made sure we’ve got this document now during the commissioning process, rather than in a year’s time.”
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