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.
In 2024 we carried out a survey of Sutton residents about their use of their GP surgery. We had over 4000 responses and found that most people were satisfied with how their appointment went, but many had problems with contacting their surgery and booking appointments. We shared the findings with the GP surgeries, local NHS and Sutton Council, and are continuing to work with them to listen to people's comments and find ways to improve their experience. This is within what is possible, given the surgeries have to meet high demand with limited resources.
Adult Safeguarding
We are interviewing people about their experience of the safeguarding process in Sutton, and sharing their feedback with Sutton Safeguarding Adults Board. This is to improve the safeguarding process for adults in the borough, and our interviews focus on whether it is 'personal' i.e. does it meet individuals' needs and consider their own wishes and views?
Community Services
We are interviewing people who have used a variety of community services in Sutton, to understand how they found those services and the other things they do to look after their health. The focus is to learn more about the experiences of people with 'frailty', to help community services in Sutton support these individuals as well as possible.
Maternity Services
We are conducting 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. We are interviewing people who have given birth at St Helier within the last 12 months to discuss their experiences.
