Young people from Cheshire have been given the chance to help shape the future of the National Health Service.

They were taking part in Children’s Commissioner’s Takeover Day 2014 which invited pupils to shadow members of the NHS West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)’s senior management team for two days of activity.

The event gives children and young people the chance to work with adults for the day and be involved in decision-making.

Children benefit from the opportunity to experience the world of work and make their voices heard, while adults and organisations gain a fresh perspective on what they do.

Alison Lee, chief executive officer of NHS West Cheshire CCG, said: “It is so important that we involve young people in shaping health services of the future.

“Being part of National Takeover Day was a great experience for all involved. It was a pleasure to have them with us and give them the opportunity to share their views and opinions. Hopefully their ‘takeover’ opportunity provided a valuable insight into how commissioning in the NHS works to provide services on their behalf.”

The young people joined the CCG’s chief executive officer, chair and senior management team at an all-day Commissioning Live event in Manchester, an NHS improvement event in Christleton, a chamber of commerce meeting at the CCG and the CCGs governing body meeting.

Two of the young people also met NHS leaders from Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Cheshire West and Cheshire Council (CWaC) and the Countess of Chester Hospital (CoCH), prior to the regular four leaders meeting.

Far from just being on the receiving end of information, the young people were also asked to share their views about how children’s and young people’s health services should be delivered in West Cheshire in the future.

Feedback from the young group was very positive. They said they found the experience interesting and enjoyable and felt privileged to have met NHS leaders on a one-to-one basis.