Children are being encouraged to become Little Researchers for Healthwatch Norfolk over the summer holidays.

The organisation, which aims to be the voice of patients, is asking the county’s youngest residents for their views about health and social care.

Its team will be making sure children get the chance to have their say about what they like or do not like about things, like a visit to the doctors or the dentists.

Healthwatch Norfolk is keen to hear about things like:

o Whether children would like to have more books in the waiting room?

o Does your family have a favourite GP or member of staff?

o Do you have a loved one living in residential care?

o Do you feel listened to by staff?

o How does your family stay healthy?

 All you have to do is find the Healthwatch Norfolk team at a location in Norfolk and fill in a patient feedback survey. For smaller researchers, we have cards that they can fill in or draw on too.

Everyone who helps with our research this summer can take home a Healthwatch Norfolk Little Researchers certificate and a mini-version of Healthwatch Norfolk’s elephant mascot, Nelson, as a thank you for their hard work and participation. 

For our full list of events and visits, log onto https://healthwatchnorfolk.co.uk/get-involved/out-and-about/

Once the project closes on August 31, we will use everything we’ve collected to make a map of experiences in Norfolk. The feedback, thoughts, and drawings will come together to make a big piece of visual artwork that will be displayed proudly on our website and at future Healthwatch Norfolk events.

Alex Stewart, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said:

“We believe very strongly that every voice counts when it comes to giving health and social care leaders feedback on their services.

“We are keen that everyone feels they have the chance to feel a part of improvement and development of service whether GPs, dentists, hospitals, residential homes, or care providers.

“It is also going to be great for us to be able to get a picture (literally) of what Norfolk’s youngest residents think.”