Primary Schools Mental Health
In 2023 we surveyed over 1,000 school pupils aged 9-11 about their mental wellbeing. We compared the results with a similar survey which we conducted in 2020, just before the pandemic. We found that the children’s mental health was, on average, worse. We have presented our findings to local bodies including the Health and Wellbeing Board. We have met with the director at Sutton Council responsible for the mental wellbeing of children and young people, and with school nurses. We have held two meetings for parents and carers of the group of children we surveyed.
Barnardos have written a report recommending “social prescribing” for children and young people. Social prescribing involves linking up a young person who needs support with a community service which may be able to help them, such as a social or sports group. We have liaised with Merton Council staff providing a social prescribing service to secondary school students in Merton to discuss whether a similar service could be provided to primary school pupils in Sutton. The next step will be meeting up with all relevant stakeholders to scope and cost a service before we seek funding.
GP Services
There have been major changes in GP services in the last few years. New initiatives include the NHS App, online messaging, booking and consultation tools and digital telephone systems. GP services now also offer appointments with other types of staff, such as physiotherapists, social prescribers and mental health practitioners. We’re planning a research project to look at service users’ experiences of these changes, to help practices understand how well they are working, and if to take other actions to ensure accessibility if required. We will use a combination of interviews, focus groups and surveys to complete the project.
Maternity Services
We are planning a research project about local patients’ experience of maternity services. We have met with NHS and voluntary sector colleagues as part of deciding which aspects of the service should be covered by the project.
