A ground breaking survey recently completed by Newcastle’s young people looking at dental services in the city has been awarded a grant from NHS England.
Healthwatch Newcastle has been awarded a community grant which recognises organisations that have delivered excellence in patient and public participation and enables them to share results and good practice.
The grant from NHS England will enable Healthwatch Newcastle to use the award to develop colourful resources and materials that can be shared through NHS England’s website as well as local and national networks. This will enable health and voluntary sector organisations across England to explore good practice and learn from Healthwatch Newcastle’s successful engagement work.
Healthwatch Newcastle involved more than 20 young people who surveyed around 250 of their peers about dental services in the city.
The group discovered that young people often don’t know enough about dental services in Newcastle and what they are entitled to. Their report also highlighted a lack of understanding among young people on the dental services available to them, on how to make appointments and opening times.
Now, thanks to the NHS England grant, that information can be shared so that other interested organisations can learn and benefit from it.
Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens said,
“We know that there is really excellent patient and public involvement work happening all around the country and we want to do more to share and learn from what is happening locally such as the work in Newcastle.”
Steph Edusei, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Newcastle, said:
“We are pleased that our work has been recognised by NHS England and even more delighted that our young people have been seen as beacons and leaders in the research on dental services that they did on our behalf.