The NHS and local councils want to transform health and care services for children and young people and are calling on local people to get involved and help.
A recent Healthwatch survey showed children and young people in Kent and Medway want their voice to be heard when local services are designed, and the NHS has launched a survey to enable this.
Dr Bob Bowes, a GP in Tunbridge Wells and Clinical Chair for Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, said: “We want local children, young people and their parents and carers to help us design services which are fit for the future to give children and young people the best start in life.
“They really can make a difference and we want suggestions for how we can improve.
“We need your help to tell us what already works well in the current system, and what doesn’t.”
The survey, which is open to children and young people from birth to 25 and their parents and carers, will help the NHS and local councils decide the priorities for future improvements to children’s services. The survey takes around 10 minutes to fill in and will close on Friday, 23 August. There is a version for parents/carers and young people (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YPlongtermplan), and another for children (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YPlongtermplan-7-25).
The NHS is keen to get feedback from children and young people of all ages as well as their parents and carers.
Kent County Council and Medway Council are working together with the NHS to improve services.
Cllr Josie Iles, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “We are pleased to be working with partners to further develop a collective understanding of the needs of children and young people in Kent and Medway.”