A BARNSLEY College student has been invited to Westminster to present his research into NHS waiting times for older patients.
Elias Howard, a learning for living and work student, participated in a summer programme led by Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Marie Tidball.
It was designed to give young people first-hand insight into politics and public service.
Elias will now travel to London to highlight the plight of older people to policy makers and peers and discuss how accessibility can be improved for older patients.
His research, developed in collaboration with another participant, was inspired by his mother, an NHS nurse of 45 years who manages a team of over 150 staff in Sheffield.
He said: “I chose to research NHS waiting times because my mum has worked in the NHS for decades, and I’ve seen how hard staff work to help patients.
“It’s something that really matters to me, and I wanted to look at ways to make things fairer and faster for older people.
“It’s given me a lot more confidence and has shown me how young people can have a voice in making change.”
