https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/patients-and-families/get-involved/gosh-voice/gosh-voice-what-weve-been-up-to/

GOSH Voice - What we've been up to

Welcome to our GOSH Voice update hub– your window into the vibrant world of coproduction at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Since launching in August 2025, GOSH Voice has grown into a thriving community of patients, siblings, parents, carers, and extended family members, all working together to shape the future of our hospital. Whether through creative workshops, feedback sessions, or strategic planning, our members have been at the heart of everything we do.

You can read more about what we've been up to below, or find out more about GOSH Voice.

November 2025

GOSH Voice had a busy November with a mix of events and workshops. Highlights include:

Illustrations of DNA and atom

GOSH Conference

Members got involved in judging at GOSH Conference 2025, joining a team of GOSH staff in reviewing and marking presentations, to help identify award winners.

Presentations covered a wide range of topics relating to children and young people’s care.

Blue and white illustration of a shooting star on a white background

Teenage Healthcare Group

We held our first young people’s Teen Healthcare Group on Thursday 13th November. We spent time exploring young people’s transition experiences and what has gone well and what could be improved. We spent some of the session talking about independence and a common theme was MyGOSH and what functions are important to our young people in having independence in their care.

What's next? We will have the next Young People’s Teen Healthcare Group in January which will focus on specific projects we are hoping to roll out in 2026 to support patient empowerment and transition from GOSH to adult care.

Black and blue illustration of a hospital with a cross on the front, on a white background

Children's Cancer Centre (CCC) filming

On Friday 21st November parents from our Children's Cancer Centre Co-production Group came together to film a series of training videos for staff working with children and young people with cancer and their families at GOSH.

“It was so inspiring listening to their powerful, emotive and honest accounts of life on the cancer unit and beyond. We hope that sharing real-life experiences with staff and providing useful suggestions about the 'little things' that can make a difference will result in positive improvements on future cancer care for children and families.” Kate Oulton- Consultant nurse for coproduction

A young person and a man in a cap. One is holding a microphone. They are in a Chapel, surrounded by stained glass windows.

Chapel's 150th Birthday

Following on from the GOSH Voice beatboxing workshop in August, we invited our young people back to perform live as part of the Chapel’s 150th event. Ava (YPF Member) spent the day with the Battersea Arts Centre Beatboxing Academy rehearsing their performance and even added a new verse. Ava performed to staff, families and donors on the night.

What's next? Ava has been invited to sing the opening verse of Once in Royal David City for our Christmas Carol event.

drugs_pharmacy

Medicines QR code project

The Medicines QR Code Project aims to make information on medication more accessible and engaging for children and young people. By placing QR codes on pharmacy labels, the aim is that families will be able to access dynamic, child-friendly content in written, verbal, animated, and translated formats.

We are at the second stage of this project, having carried out a first workshop in the summer. In this second workshop, we the team prototyped the app with children and young people, to gather their feedback on using the interface.

We had lots of useful feedback and insights, both on the information and animation style and content.  The next steps include improving the prototype and seeking further research funding to expand the project’s impact.

October 2025

Mental Health Study Day

GOSH Learning Academy runs a mental health study for mental health link nurses working within clinical areas.

This study day opened with a session titled ‘Coproducing Mental Health Services to Empower Young People Through Their GOSH Journey’. This was led by a member of our YPF, our Children and Young People’s Coproduction Facilitator and Chief of Mental Health.

Who was involved? YPF

GOSH will continue to listen and learn from our patients and families about mental health at GOSH. We will use this to advance the education modules we deliver to our clinical professionals, to help us build a community where mental health is prioritised, and every child and young person can thrive.

Colourful artwork of nine patterned birds on a turquoise background, with descriptive text on the surrounding wall.

Murmuration artwork

YPF worked with GOSH Arts on a piece called Murmuration. This is an interactive, colourful artwork made up of nine patterned birds. One of these birds is dedicated to the YPF, and reads facts about the YPF.
GOSH Arts recently carried out an evaluation of this piece which revealed that many people did not realise the piece could be interacted with. Following this feedback, Murmuration was reinstalled with vinyl text and QR codes to invite interaction.

We will continue to collaborate with GOSH Arts to create a hospital environment where art plays an integral role in enriching the experience of our patients.

A light grey wall with teal text displaying Great Ormond Street Hospital poem. Seats in front.

Installation of the YPF poem

YPF have been working with GOSH Arts to create a poem about who the hospital is really for. This has now been put on the wall in vinyl, by pharmacy.

Who was involved? YPF

We will be creating an audio version of the poem, with our YPF members reading the poem aloud. We hope this will allow more people to engage with and access the poem.

GOSH Learning Academy (GLA)- Leadership in Advancing Practice Study day

GOSH Voice members took place in this GLA study day, as part of a panel style discussion.

They discussed:

  • What makes a good leader in healthcare?
  • What is important to you?
  • How has good/bad leadership impacted your healthcare journey?
  • What can we do better as healthcare professionals?

They spoke to a far-reaching range of healthcare professionals, from across GOSH and wider afield.

Who was involved? GOSH Voice patients, GOSH Voice parents & carers

'The immediate connection to lived experience will have a significant impact on learners and their practice. It was clear the participants enjoyed the session, and their feedback reflects this. The session was outstanding– brilliantly delivered and genuinely engaging. It offered an invaluable opportunity for healthcare professionals to hear directly from those using the service and to reflect on real-life experiences from a young person and a family member.' -Course leader

'I particularly valued hearing from the parent and patient. While our aim is always to put them first, the reality of working within standards, protocols, and targets can sometimes overshadow this. Sessions like this are a powerful reminder of what truly matters.' -Course attendee

Two young women, smiling, wearing a tshirt and a hoody with 'YPF' on

Mental health framework launch

GOSH's mental health framework launched this month, with our YPF chair and vice chair presenting at the launch event. They spoke about the importance of mental health and the need for the new framework, as well as the importance of coproduction within the creation of this framework. They also spoke to the other projects involving mental health that the YPF have recently been working on.

Who was involved? YPF

Our Chief of Mental Health will continue to work with the YPF on projects within the three prevention strands of the mental health framework.

“As young people at GOSH, when we talk about mental health, we don’t just mean illness, we mean the whole picture of how we feel, think, and cope day to day. For many of us, our mental health is shaped by more than just our conditions or treatment. It’s about how safe, supported, and understood we feel. We want to help build a future where looking after our minds is seen to be just as important as looking after our bodies, and where no one feels they have to struggle in silence”- Chair of the YPF.

Patient Lead Assessment of the Care Environment (PLACE)

This month, GOSH Voice members took part in PLACE- a national assessment allowing patient and family representatives to review and assess the care environment in GOSH across five categories:

  • Cleanliness
  • Food and hydration
  • Privacy and dignity
  • Condition, appearance and maintenance of building
  • Disability compliance

Who was involved? GOSH Voice patients, GOSH Voice parents & carers

The assessment went very well, with members assessing across a number of wards and areas.

The final scores will be published and will feed into the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

A young man and young woman speaking into a microphone, reading a speech

Strategy launch

The YPF has been instrumental in shaping the whole GOSH strategy, in particular the pillar “Together we embrace the whole”. They have brought their perspectives, their experiences, and their insights to ensure that our care truly reflects what children and young people need. YPF were invited to launch to speak about their involvement and share their youth manifesto.

Who was involved? YPF

GOSH Voice will continue to work closely with the Strategy team to ensure our strategy is delivered effectively, and that the voices and ideas of our patients and families are captured and reflected throughout.

“Just heard the amazing YPF members speak at the GOSH Strategy session and your team did a great job today presenting their manifesto and the video was really impactful at the end. Great work” - GOSH staff member

September 2025

Four people standing in front of a blue banner.

GOSH AGM

Our members joined our GOSH Lead for Health Inequalities, Pippa Sipanoun, to present their involvement in the Health Inequalities work that has been underway in the last year.

The AGM was a success!

A GOSH Voice Young People’s Health Inequalities Group will start in October 2025. This will run monthly to further imbed the voice of our young people in the GOSH Health Inequalities workstream.

August 2025

colourful illustrated map for 'Play Day 2025' at Coram's Fields, scheduled from 12 PM to 4 PM. It highlights various activity zones including an Adventure Playground, Accessible Bikes, Inflatable Obstacle Course, Chicken Zone, Games Zone, Scavenger Hunt, Junior Play Zone, Baby Swings, Creative Zone & Face Painting, Universal Fun Station, Police Dogs area, and Cadent Community Stage. Food and drink options like Queens Head Burgers and Well-Kneaded Pizza are shown, along with facilities such as a Pavilion, Paddling Pool, Youth Centre Lemonade Stall, and nearby toilets. The map is bordered by Gu

Play Day 2025

Coram's Fields is a children’s charity and large green play space, based across the road from GOSH. It is dedicated to providing free play spaces and enriching programmes for children and young people.

Play Day is an annual event, organized in collaboration between Coram's and GOSH, featuring a variety of activities for children, including live performances, inflatables, sports, and arts and crafts.

This year our GOSH Young People's Forum (YPF) were given the opportunity to develop and run a stall.

Who was involved?: YPF

After an initial workshop and focus group with younger children, our YPF decided to create a scavenger hunt. They designed a scavenger hunt card and accompanying stickers, and ran the stall on the day.

The YPF scavenger hunt was so popular, the stall went through their 1000s of cards, within the first hour of the event!

“It was amazing to see so many people come together for Play Day at GOSH. As Chair of the Young People’s Forum, it was really special to be part of the event, knowing just how impactful it would be for so many patients and families. I especially loved helping with the scavenger hunt organised by the YPF, and seeing the joy and excitement it brought to the kids! It was also lovely to see familiar faces enjoying every part of the day. Whether it was chatting with the police and sitting in their cars, visiting the chickens, or cycling on the accessible bikes, there truly was something for everyone!”- Chair of the YPF

A young person and a man in a cap. One is holding a microphone. They are in a Chapel, surrounded by stained glass windows.

Beatboxing workshop

GOSH Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care team, the Battersea Arts Centre Beatboxing Academy and GOSH Arts teamed up to run a beatboxing workshop. The aim of the session was to work with patients to create a piece of music which captured young people's thoughts and feelings on the spiritual care spaces at GOSH. This was as part of 150th birthday celebrations for GOSH's St Christopher’s Chapel.

Who was involved?: GOSH Voice patients, GOSH Voice alumni

The performance was so successful, that the young people have been invited to perform their piece live in November as part the Chapel's 150th birthday celebrations.

“It was so brilliant our young people and alumni collaborate and share their incredible talents in this amazing space.”- Staff Member

Last reviewed: Nov 2025 Ref: 1125PAF0032