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.

111? I always use 111 as I don’t want to waste a GP appointment if I don’t need one. I feel like not enough people do this.

If you call NHS direct during working hours you’re usually directed to your GP. My teen isn’t quite there yet in terms of making her own appointments but I have her with me when I’m calling on her behalf so she knows the process. It’s worth having a chat with the surgery though, while usually you need to call at 8.30 for a same day appointment they’ll let you book a routine appointment at any time and with young people they’ll try to find a same day appointment if needed.

The main thing though is modelling that no health care issue is embarrassing, our bodies aren’t anything to be ashamed of and it’s important to ask for what you need. That’s a long term, drip feed modelling - being able to talk about health concerns and being open about private or intimate health care. My DD and I have talked about smear tests and how important they are, if a bit awkward at times. Both kids know about routine bowel screening for older adults, because they saw my test come through the post. The more clear communication, the more they know to seek help when they need it.

I’m not in the uk so don’t have this problem with my GP but my partner did when there. He just said “personal reasons I’m only comfortable discussing with a doctor” and that was sufficient to get an appointment

School nurse. Both secondaries over worked in half them one day a week.

https://chathealth.nhs.uk Is run by the NHS and staffed by qualified nurses; it’s an online chat or text service, so it’s anonymous and an easy way of getting reliable advice :)

That website looks great. Never heard of it before

Unfortunately that chat service doesn’t work when I put our area in