Health consultation asks the children

Date published: 14/03/2006

Children across Rochdale and the surrounding areas are being asked for their views on proposed changes to their health care, by a doctor created especially to listen to what they have to say.

Dr Tilly is the product of the ‘Making It Better’ team, who are currently carrying out a public consultation on proposals to change in-patient children’s and maternity services across the area. She is the main character in a ‘big idea’ game written to help involve children in the consultation.

Dr Tilly’s Big Idea, has been created especially for use with children in schools, hospitals and other organisations. Patient and Public Involvement workers (PPIs) from the 17 Primary Care Trusts involved in the consultation will take the game out to children to explain the proposals and gather their views as part of the consultation.

The game aims to help children aged between five and 11, understand why services for children and young people have to change and it helps them to track their journey through health care services.

Cath Broderick, PPI Co-ordinator for the ‘Making it Better’ Network, said: “We realised that if we wanted children’s views on our proposals then we would need to design a consultation document aimed specifically at them.  Dr Tilly’s Big Idea outlines the reasons why change is necessary, in a fun and clear way.  This helps children get involved in consultation about the way their health care is delivered”

Dr Richard Campbell, Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Lead for the ‘Making it Better’ Network, added: “Children are a unique group of people that we need to engage with and doing this by traditional methods simply isn’t appropriate.  I am glad to see Dr Tilly’s Big Idea being used in schools and groups to ensure that children are consulted. These proposals ultimately affect them more than any other group and it is important that we listen to what they have to say.”

Wendy Meston, Deputy Director of Public Health and Children’s Lead for Rochdale PCT said; “Dr Tilly is being distributed to all local primary schools and Sure Start Centres, as well as libraries across Rochdale. Rochdale Primary Care Trust hopes to share the new document with the Rochdale Junior Mayors and has shared it with the Children’s Participation Group amongst others. Dr Tilly is a welcomed addition to the engagement process and it is hoped that it will help children to have their say in these final crucial weeks of the formal Making it Better consultation.”

There is also a document aimed at children of 11 years-of-age and older, that that PPI workers can email to young people and that allows them to submit their responses online.

The Making it Better Consultation about the proposed reconfiguration of children’s and maternity in-patient services in Greater Manchester, East Cheshire and High Peak.  The consultation period is running until Friday 12 May.  For more information, please visit: www.bestforhealth.nhs.uk/makingitbetter