What do teenagers do if they have a health worry they don’t want to discuss with you?

[Untery]

Have you had any preemptive discussions about this at all? Around here you have to phone gp at 8.30 and wait for about 10-15 mins on hold and then tell the receptionist what the problem is and they decide if you are allowed to have an appointment. So for a teenager to do this themselves is pretty much impossible.

i am worried about teenager looking up online and stressing themselves when they just need to speak to a nurse /doctor for reassurance but that is near enough impossible these days.

I remember being able to call the doctor receptionist myself at any time and ask for an appointment without giving any information at all. But all these things are gate keeper.

It's really shocking isn't it? I suppose the NHS website might be useful. Do you have a local walk-in centre?

No walk in

Talk about the danger of Dr. Google as a general topic. The NHS website is sometimes a bit meh but in general gives decent information.

I would talk about myself and how I don't like it but that's the life. Saying that our surgery offers making appointment via the NHS app if you are fast enough and you can just put a dot into the comment box and it works.

You can also let them now about Boots' pharmacy first scheme, that can help. Or that some hospitals have walk-in centers.

DD is off to uni soon and while they have a surgery on campus, she still will have to learn to talk to people. Luckily she is a person who hardly ever needs the GP.

What age teenager are we talking here? By the time mine were 17/18 it wouldn't have been impossible for them to call a GP as they had a more flexible school timetable. Before then I don't think it would have occured to them to call the GP themselves, they came to me. Even my son who's not great at talking about stuff came to me with what might be considered an embarrassing issue.

It's probably a good life skill to talk them through contacting the GP themselves.

Ultimately though I think you just have to make it clear they can come to you about anything. You could also advise them on safe places to look for medical advice - i.e. NHS website.

Teach her how to do an econsult and set her up with the app required (it varies by area I believe).

teach her what to say to the GP receptionist - not to lie but there are ways to present issues which are less embarrassing I think (and still likely to result in an appointment). Maybe practice this with random ailments.

Get them to download the nhs app. They can access it from age 13 and contact the gp by an e consultation or book an appointment via the app. Usually a telephone appointment first then followed up with in person if needed.
I find the app works really well for contacting my gp and accessing health information.

Thanks. I didn’t know there was an app. We are in Scotland not sure if that makes a difference

Never heard of e consults

Does their school have a nurse?

The chances of him going to school nurse are pretty much nil

Not everywhere has e-consult but it's worth looking into. My GP do it and it's great. Is there a reason why you think he may not come to you? Anything specific you're concerned about?

I will phone gp to ask but don’t think they have econsult here

School nurse - in my area they can be contacted by text.
E-consult form if the surgery uses them.
Going into the GP surgery on the way home from school and making a routine appointment in person.

Our GP surgery sends them a teenage health card at 14 which says they can just turn up and wait - it’s for if they don’t want to discuss it with parents

I would call your surgery and tell them exactly what you have put here he needs an appointment you don’t know exactly why and he’s searching Dr Google winding himself up.

Get them to call 111 they will be able to arrange an appointment with a children’s surgery or walk in or telephone consult which ever is most appropriate.

Please let teenagers know that they can go to the pharmacy and ask to speak to the pharmacist privately. There will be a consultation room for privacy if needed. I was a community Pharmacy Manager for many years, and we quite often used to help teenagers. Also, if they needed to see a Dr after speaking to us, I would also quite often call their surgery for them, to help organise an appointment/consultation.

No NHS app in Scotland unfortunately. My GP surgery does not offer e-consult. It might be worth looking to see what information is on your GP surgery website and what services they offer online.

My Dd does e consults, they are a good way for young people to coomunicate as they dont need to be seen face to facr

They don’t decide if you’re allowed an appointment or not. They have to follow their policy, which is normally imposed by their bosses (most of the times a GP!)
But as far as I know, if your teenager gives written consent, you can book and discuss on their behalf!

Most surgeries use the eConsults, which can be filled by a teenager or someone on their behalf.

I would assume teenagers are asking chat gpt. As unhelpful as that is

If near Glasgow they have a youth health service and teens can see a GP in a chilled environment and it's after school times/early eves. Usually one night a week in an area and i dont think you need to live in the specific area to attend eg could drive to other part of Glasgow.

https://www.nhsggc.scot/hospitals-services/services-a-to-z/glasgow-city-youth-health-service/

@Untery We’re also in Scotland and there’s no walk in centre, NHS app or e-consult in our area (we’re in Ayrshire).

I would advise teen that if they ever have a medical issue that they don’t feel comfortable discussing with me and they can’t get a GP appointment for whatever reason then they should visit the pharmacist.
Reassure them that they can ask yo speak with them privately and there is usually a small consultation room that they can go into. They can help with so many things and can even prescribe certain medications. Can’t speak for them all but I know a couple of lovely ones in my area would absolutely help a teen with contacting the GP surgery for an appointment if needed.

Thanks these are good ideas . I will have a chat with both my children about. Unfortunately not near Glasgow which is a shame as that sounds like a good service

Our GP has a system to call at opening time for an appointment that day but you can phone or walk in at other times to book ahead etc. I wouldn't assume there is no flexibility at all.

If they speak first to receptionist and gives permission for you to speak will they be ok with that?