Medical practice becomes first to meet new “young people friendly” standards
Albrighton Medical Practice has become the first in Shropshire to meet a new Department of Health quality standard for being welcoming to young people.
The ‘You’re Welcome’ award is a result of excellent partnership working between the medical practice and Shropshire Council’s public health team and is a huge step forward for young people who have taken part in the process.
To gain this standard, services need to demonstrate they are young people friendly – and a vital element of the process involved consultation with young people.
The Department of Health says the You’re Welcome initiative “provides good practice guidance based on local practice and evidence of what has been found to improve patient experience and health outcomes for young people. Applying the criteria also helps effective use of the NHS and public health services”.
Teenage patients at Albrighton Medical Practice completed a questionnaire which asked their views on a range of areas, including making appointments, the comfort of the waiting area, and confidence that consultations are confidential.
The results of the findings and steps being taken to address suggestions for improvement were displayed on the teenage patients’ noticeboard in the waiting area, which included information about a range of health topics relevant to young people.
As a wider part of the process, a health development project officer from the public health team consulted with teenagers across Shropshire which included students in Further Education colleges.
They gave their views about the design and wording for confidentiality and appointment posters, which are now displayed at the practice. They also advised on appropriate health leaflets, what an ideal medical practice should look like, and what makes an ideal “young people friendly” doctor or nurse.
All of these findings formed an essential part of the You’re Welcome quality standard.
Councillor Karen Calder, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for health, said:
“We see the You’re Welcome quality standard as an essential part of increasing young people’s confidence to access health services. More GP practices are being engaged and we hope the standard will be rolled out to wider health services across the county in the near future.”
Further information
Picture caption: Lisa Sloley, Senior Practice Nurse at Albrighton Medical Practice, receives the Department of Health ‘You’re Welcome’ certificate of recognition from Professor Rod Thomson, Director of Public Health, Shropshire Council.
