A special event which will present research conducted locally by local young people  takes place in Smethwick this week and aims to feed into planning policies for future local health services.

The event which will be attended by health, social care and education bosses from across the region will feature speakers including Dr John Middleton, Director of Public Health at Sandwell Primary Care Trust and Bruce Kirk, Regional Co-ordinator for Adolescent Health Services Government Office West-Midlands.

The experts will examine and discuss the results of reasearch conducted in Sandwell by a group of young researchers who aimed to find out the health needs of local young people.

One of the organisers of the event, Sarah New, who works for Children and Young People’s Services in Sandwell who contributed towards the ground breaking work, explained: “Sandwell Primary Care Trust and Sandwell Council commissioned the young researchers to undertake research into adolescent health with other young people locally. A diverse group of six young people aged 15-21 were trained. They undertook research with 62 young people, asking about the health needs of young people locally, what constitutes a ‘healthy’ young person, and how services can be made more young people friendly.”
Amongst other things, the research revealed the need for:

• early identification of young people at risk (with GPs seen as crucial)
• support for young fathers
• targeted mental health services
• making hospital services more appropriate for young people
• make all health services more young people friendly
• address street safety, gangs and use of weapons (including young people’s inaccurate perceptions of this)
• better alcohol advice and treatment services.

The findings also backed current trends towards localising health services and providing ‘preventative’ services such as help with dietary advice and access to exercise schemes.

For more information about the work anyone interested can take a look at www.youngpeopleinfocus.org.uk for more information.