Cuts under the new government are going to be made. Our University Health Centre, under current regulations, could be targeted and the reason for this is older people are considered a priority nationwide.

However, as a service that provides care for predominantly young people, the facilities needed here on campus are substantially different. The process of making generalised cuts across the country while ignoring the demographics of local service users will result in services such as our health centre being targeted - despite the inherent value it provides.

As young people we all have a fight on our hands to be heard - irrelevant of political beliefs. This is demonstrated by years of young people’s views not being, or very rarely, being represented in parliament.

I understand that the older generation are, typically, far more prone to life threatening illnesses such as pneumonia, influenza and dementia among others. And believe me, I would never wish for my grandparents to suffer through these cuts either!

But that doesn’t mean that young people are any lesser in need of services.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated in 2014 that healthy ageing is a lifelong process. They also added that: “Patterns of harmful behaviour, often established early in life, can reduce the quality of life and even result in premature death.” When those patterns of behaviour are combined with poor nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol they can contribute to the development of severe chronic conditions.

So why is it that we are choosing a fatalistic approach to cuts, and not looking to the future? Research by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states that bad habits developed in young people tend to remain with them for the rest of their life. So surely these areas should be a priority for this government.

Furthermore, the main health issues leading to early death in young people according to the WHO are:

• Early pregnancy and childbirth
• HIV/AIDS
• Mental health and violence
• Alcohol and Drug misuse
• Obesity, exercise and nutrition
• Tobacco use

They suggested some recommendations for governments to improve young people’s health including:

• Drawing up evidence-based guidelines to support health services and other sectors
• Making recommendations to governments on adolescent health and adolescent friendly health services
• Raising awareness of health issues for young people among the public and special groups.

Key Services At Risk

Our University Health Centre currently provides a number of key services for students such as contraception and sexual health (CASH) support, alcohol addiction support, smoking cessation, weight reduction programmes and physiotherapy clinics plus countless more.

These clinics ensure that patients experience an efficient service that can, in some cases, reduce times from twelve weeks to a matter of days.

Students tell me that there are two areas they struggle with most; a lack of time and money! So would you be able to afford both financially and through time taken; to travel to Halifax, Leeds or Sheffield to attend what would be considered your ‘local’ service?

From a personal perspective I already have to travel to Sheffield for the closest allergy clinic, taking time that I just simply don’t have. If I then had to also travel for other services I know it would be near enough impossible!

Which is why it is fundamental that you as young people, make a stand by filling out the questionnaire below, showing how valuable these services are to you and to your peers and how they can be improved to better your experience even further.

Let your voice be heard!

The questionnaire needs to be completed by 27 July and could have a major impact on your local health services. Fill it in now online. 

Alysia Ford

VP Wellbeing & Equalities

Sources:

Mental Health Foundation

NICE

WHO