Young People’s Health Needs in Old Trafford and Gorse Hill

A baseline Study

July 2003-07-31

Executive Summary

This is an initial survey of young people’s perceptions of their health needs and of services they receive from primary health care providers. Specific provision has been introduced into the two areas of Old Trafford and Gorse Hill, where there is evidence of poverty and social exclusion..

Methods used

The research team was made up of younger researchers, who work in informal education and come from ethnic backgrounds reflected in the client group. They used contacts drawn for a previous youth audit to gain access to young people in both formal and informal settings, including a school, youth club, community centre and on the street, as part of an outreach project. Questionnaires were used in guided interviews and used to form the basis of informal focus group discussions. In all 378 young people were consulted. Those who participated in the survey received a certificate, to mark their contribution (See Apendix1). We welcome their involvement in moving towards changes in the services.

Main findings

  • Age and ethnic differences made significant differences to the choice of services sought
  • Most of the young people felt that their GP did not take them seriously, either in relation to their own health needs orto that of relatives
  • The majority of participant nevertheless felt they received adequate advice about illness, and trusted their GP, but sought other sources of advice on health matters, including sexual health, depression and use of drugs.
  • Few participants reported that they had been given any choice of the health professional they could see and many were worried about confidentiality and felt that trust was essential in discussing any issues of mental illness. They wanted to “feel safe”
  • Many young people drew attention to the environment in which formal health advice was given, to the boredom of waiting and perceived a difficulty of getting further appointments

Main Recommendations

These are drawn from the evidence of the young people themselves

  • Age, genderand racial groups need to be considered differently in relation to targeted services. More close attention needs to be given to self-ascription of racial origin and therefore to identified host communities where peer support might be encouraged
  • Young people need to be involved in proactive health planning and to be given more information about systems for accessing different services and about their entitlements
  • Training for health professionals in how to acknowledge the views of each young person, explain symptoms and solutions in accessible language and to demonstrate respect, whether the parent or carer is present or not
  • There need to be opportunities to discuss the choice of doctors, especially for young women and Asian young people
  • Young people to be involved in the design and production of leaflets and other publicity material about services. Also consulted about the design of waiting room facilities
  • Issues of confidentiality need to be discussed with young people and agreed as public protocols
  • Access to local sexual health and mental health advice services need to be reviewed

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