HASSENGATE Medical Centre has become the first GP Surgery in South Essex to become accredited with the Department of Health, national quality mark; ‘You’re Welcome’. The national quality mark, aimed at all health services throughout the country used by residents aged 11-19, highlights services which are young people friendly and committed to developing and improving services.
In order to receive the accreditation Hassengate Medical Centre had to ensure that various aspects of the centre met criteria that covered a range of topics such as accessibility, environment, publicity, confidentiality and consent, training of staff and joined up working. However the key aspect of the ‘You’re Welcome’ process is the involvement of young people and the practice has a rolling program, via its patient group as well as directly, to seek the views of young people.
Carol Barnes Locality Lead & You’re Welcome Lead, from the south Essex PCT cluster said: “We are delighted to be presenting Hassengate Medical Centre with this quality mark which demonstrates a commitment to being young person friendly.
“This type of accreditation is reassuring for young people and gives them the confidence to access support and advice which can have a real impact on their wellbeing.
“We look forward to continuing the roll out of Your Welcome across the range of health services throughout the area – to be added to a number of other services who have already been accredited.”
Russell Vine, Practice Manager at Hassengate Medical Centre said: “It is really important that we support young people to make positive choices about their health. A big part of that is providing them with information and services that they can relate to and access easily.”
By 2020, it is hoped that all health services that are accessed by young people will carry the ‘You’re Welcome’ quality mark. The PCT cluster plans to continue leading the way in the South with plans for further health services to be accredited with quality mark over the next year.
