Frome’s youth patient voice leads the way for national setup

THE voice of young people in Frome regarding medical matters, the Frome Youth Patient Participation Group, is now being used as a blueprint for NHS England as an example of how such groups should be set up.

Like most other GP surgeries, the Frome Medical Practice has its own adult Patient Participation Group (PPG) which is extremely active. However, the Frome Youth PPG is believed to be the first one formed in the country and is now being used by NHS England as an example of how such groups should be set up.

The Frome Youth PPG was formed towards the end of last year as a health forum, made up of young people from around Frome. The organisation looks at ways to improve wellbeing and health services for young people, such as working with youth clinics, talking to GPs and nurses as well as training to become mental health champions.

One of the group’s founders is Susie Williams, in her final year of the sixth form at Frome College where she is currently applying to university.

“The Frome Youth PPG has been a real success,” says Susie. “The organisation presents as a great opportunity for any young person, aged 19 years or under, interested in health, medicine and/or promoting the youth voice. We constantly look at how health services can be improved upon for young people, based on the experiences and opinions of those who actually use those services.’

The Frome Medical Practice has for some time held a Young Persons’ Clinic every Wednesday afternoon between 3-5pm for anyone aged 19 or under. No appointment is necessary and anyone attending does not even have to be registered with the practice.

The clinic advises upon and treats all health issues affecting young people, from contraception to eating disorders and general health. The Youth PPG has been busy designing cards and fliers helping to spread the word on the services that are available.

“There are some great health facilities for young people here in Frome,” adds Susie. “As a group we want to make sure that those our age are made fully aware of what is available. Young people in particular have real concerns over anxiety, self-harm and mental health generally. We have presented in school assemblies and run stalls at town events to raise awareness of the support that is out there.’

The Frome Youth Group comes with the full blessing of Dr Helen Kingston, the senior partner at the Frome Medical Practice, who explained, “Having the Frome Youth PPG at the surgery has helped us highlight the needs of those young people in our practice population and ensure that we are mindful of how they find out about our services so that we can best meet this need. As a first in the country they have already shown how innovative and dynamic a group they are.”

The next meeting of the Frome Youth PPG is at the Frome Medical Centre on Wednesday 27th September at 5pm. The Youth PPG encourages anyone aged 19 or under to come along to the meeting and find out more about the organisation and what its future plans are, including getting GPs and other health professionals back into schools and colleges.

For anyone not able to make the meeting on the 27th September, more information about the group can be obtained from the Frome Youth PPG page on the practice website or by calling Health Connections Mendip on 01373 468368.