Hear My Voice campaign empowers young people to be heard in their healthcare

Our Transition service and Youth Forum is rolling out the “Hear My Voice” campaign to all paediatric and adult departments.

This campaign encourages young people to take an active role in their healthcare, supports independence, promotes shared decision making and reminds everyone involved that young people deserve to be heard.

Sarah Cassels, Lead Transition Practitioner, said: “As a Lead Transition Practitioner, my role is to support young people as they move from paediatric to adult services. This period of transition can feel overwhelming and my focus is on empowering young people from the early teenage years to become more involved in their healthcare appointments, understand their health and feel confident using their voice.”

The group have created posters for patients and staff which have been displayed in relevant wards and departments.

The first poster is aimed directly at young people and focuses on My Health, My Appointment, My Voice. It encourages young people to understand why they are coming to hospital, learn about their health condition and recognise how it may affect their life and the people around them. It also sets expectations for appointments, including being spoken to directly, having information explained in a way they understand and being given choices such as whether they are seen alone, with a trusted adult or with a chaperone. Most importantly, it reassures young people that their voice matters and that they should feel able to explain how they feel emotionally and physically and ask questions in ways that feel comfortable for them.

The second poster is aimed at clinicians. It provides guidance on how we can continue to empower young people in appointments. This includes speaking directly to the young person, using clear and age-appropriate language, offering communication aids when needed and finding out what the young person wants to get out of their appointment.

The third poster focuses on decision making. As young people approach the age of 16, they are increasingly expected to be actively involved in decisions about their care and this can feel daunting. The poster uses the BRAIN acronym: Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition and do Nothing. This gives young people a simple starting point for questions they might want to ask, helping them feel informed, supported and confident when making decisions about their care. It also reinforces that it is not ok to feel pressured and that everyone’s choices may be different based on their experiences and circumstances.

Sarah said: “All three posters were created alongside the NNUH Youth Forum, who are passionate about ensuring that every young person’s voice is heard within healthcare. Their insight and lived experience have been central to shaping the campaign. Small prompts like this can make a big difference in helping young people feel more involved and independent in their healthcare journey.”

If you would like to join the youth forum email youthforum@nnuh.nhs.uk