Could the views of students help shape the NHS?

For many people the NHS is like marmite, but whether we love it or hate it, we all end up using it one day, one way or another.

Students are one of the most outspoken, actionable social groups around, so when asking a number of them for their opinions on health services – an outspoken answer was what I got.

It has been an interesting few days hearing student’s thoughts on their health services. Below is a film the students I met, sharing their views – but not everyone was happy to be filmed, and as you’ll read below, there were quite a range of views!

International students, on the whole told me that they thought the NHS was great. When asked why, they mostly replied, ‘because it is free and available to all’. Interesting, a majority of the international students I spoke to also felt open minded to the idea of reforms and privatisation of the NHS.

In comparison, British students were a little more sceptical. But, overall they also agreed that the NHS was a great thing, although they did say that there are improvements to be made – all of which can be done with the help of patient feedback.

Elizabeth Etheridge who is studying French at the University of Sheffield, told me how her Nan had recently been in hospital but she felt the only reason ‘things were being done quickly’ was because her mum ‘knew the right people and could pull a few strings’. However, when speaking of the University health service, she could not speak highly enough, ‘fantastically well run, great service and really pleasant doctors.’

Interestingly, when I asked her about her thoughts on Patient Opinion, she said, ‘I’ve never heard of it but I think it’s a great idea. Change always starts from the bottom.’

One group of students I have been eager to speak to are medical students. Fortunately, I did manage to speak to a few outside the University Information Commons on Wednesday.

Although they didn’t wish to be filmed or be directly quoted, they did speak to me and pass on some really intriguing information. One male student who was in his fourth year of medicine told me of how he was intending to leave the field before he had even started because of ‘all of the bureaucracy’. His course mate told me she would be sticking with it but was sceptical of her future as she said, ‘the NHS isn’t what it used to be’. She also told me how all the medical students she knew were in uproar over the current proposed changes.

Speaking with students about their experiences of health services and their thoughts on the NHS, has made me see that students do care about their services and would like to see change. What is more important I think now, is that a site such as Patient Opinion try and expand its reach to students. Students are the next generation and with their strong political ideologies and desire for change, their work and interaction with PO could be surprisingly influential.