What age can a child go to the dentist, optician and doctor alone?

[TripleChocs]

Just that thanks.

I asked my GP this question recently and was told that a child could see their GP unaccompanied at any age as it's really important for confidentiality. What if they want to report abuse for example?
On the other hand, I'm still expected to accompany my 17 year old DD to the optician and dentist, maybe because of the free treatment? Not sure though.

18?

I went from about 16 when it was gp. 17 otherwise.

16 but with dentist and optician may need an adult to fill paper works.

My daughter signed the nhs form at the dentist, they asked her to do it now she is 16. She still comes with me for check ups but when she needed a filling she went on her own, I had agreed this at the last check up, I think she was 15 then.
She has been to the Drs on her own when she wanted to talk about her skin condition, and at 16 can register for patient access to book own appointments etc.

Dd moved away from home for college aged 16 and she goes to the orthodontist alone. She also attended hospital appointments alone.

16
BUT a younger child can be deemed Gillick competent and access healthcare without a parent or guardian

I am just trying to remember but I think when mine got to about 14 I would take them but for dentist and optician I would sit in the waiting room and if I was needed called in. For GP I asked them if they wanted me to come in with them, usually yes because they wanted me to help explain symptoms etc. Once they could drive at 17 they took themselves. I remember being ill in bed and my youngest was 16 and also ill and got the bus to the walk in surgery - think tonsillitis - was so glad he was ok to go on his own as I had flu type bug!

We were told we needed to be at dentist until 18 to sign form. They have actually gone into the room alone from about age of 5/6 (at their request).

16 + is reasonable for unaccompanied to the dentist but it very much depends on the individual child/young person & what treatment they are having. Under 16s shouldn't be going for dental examinations solo; their parent or guardian with PR, needs to complete all the relevant paperwork.

@TheBrockmans, 16 year olds can sign their own dental paperwork, consent & medical history, as long as their mental capacity is unimpaired.

At 16 you sign your own NHS form for dentist or opticians, a young child is unlikely to be seen without parent on premises but though now an early retired dentist I would often see children 6-7 in surgery while parent in waiting room either with other siblings or because sometimes child deals with treatment better without parent especially the parents who do unhelpful and inaccurate running commentaries, often high school kids would come for check ups alone after school, if they needed treatment they would come back with parent or I would ring parent or if 14-16 and I judged them competent to consent fully I would treat with out parents, some kids would have been in pain for weeks if I said I wouldn't treat without parents being there. Most children over 13 are perfectly capable of giving informed consent to a dental check up or eye test, however they may not be able to completely judge something that maybe painful now but will have benefits in 10-15 years time

My married 37 year old still asks me to go to doctors/clinic/dentist with her

I was diagnosed diabetic at 15 and my parents didn’t come to a single clinic appointment with me. Or any of the others, from what I can remember (they weren’t uncaring either).

@usernamexox
Maybe it is just the policy in our dentists, they did specifically say 18. I did think it was a bit excessive.