HEALTH chiefs claim they are making major progress in improving young people's lives, despite the worrying results of a recent survey.

Easington's Patient and Public Involvement Forum (PPI) said the survey of 1,500 11 to 16-year-olds indicated "a worrying level of behaviour and knowledge that may set youngsters on a very unhealthy and possibly dangerous track to adulthood".

Easington Primary Care Trust said yesterday its efforts to improve the health of children and young people were making significant progress.

The trust said it had already achieved a 20 per cent reduction in teenage pregnancies since 1998.

Other successes included the creation of drop-in centres and health clinics and better access to services helping youngsters to stop smoking.

The trust added that it recognised the concerns raised in the youth survey and that it was hoping to use the results of the questionnaire to improve services.

Services already provided include:

l A free condoms scheme operating in 17 venues which is due to be extended.

l A teenage referral and advice centre based at Shotton Hall School and another due to open at Seaham School of Technology in September.

l Young people's clinics at Murton Family Centre, Eden Hill at the Pride Project, Peterlee, the Peterlee Health Centre and Seaham Young Persons Clinic, with plans for three more in Easington Colliery, Horden and Peterlee.

l A sexual health outreach worker available to give confidential advice.

l Stop smoking services and drug training courses.

Tim Wright, the trust's head of health partnerships, said: "We believe we have developed a range of quality programmes which are having an impact on young people.

"However, there is still more work to do and, with the help of the PPI Forum, we hope to give young people even more say in shaping the future of our services."