Can a 15 year old attend a hospital outpatient appointment by themselves?

[HairyMaclary]

DS2 (15, sensible) has a fracture clinic appointment 7 weeks after a broken wrist tomorrow. It‘s been in a splint rather than a cast and I’m not expecting much beyond him being discharged as healing is going well.

My parents were going to take him but may not now be able to, DH is taking DS1 to another appointment (he has SEN and needs and adult) and I absolutely have to be in the building for work. Can he attend by himself? Will they see him?

I’d be available on the phone but won’t be able to ring them to rearrange / let them know about his non attendance until 9.30am.

I don't see why not.

I would imagine yes. During covid times I was told DS (14-15) had to attend all his orthodontics appointments (in a hospital) on his own due to their pandemic rules.

He was fine and the staff called me afterwards if there was anything I needed to know.

Thanks, I hope so but I’m a regular at multiple hospitals and departments and have never seen an unaccompanied child!

If he’s sensible enough and feels ok about it then I don’t see why he couldn’t, but I think it would probably raise some questions with the staff. DD is now 18 (been seeing orthopaedic consultants since she was 16) and even now when I sent her alone a few weeks ago they asked where mum was!

Yes. If they are sensible and can make informed decisions etc. that's the legal standpoint. YMMV

Phone the hospital and check, failing that see if they have any space in a different clinic

Absolutely yes.
Look up gillick competency...he could actually refuse ,if he wanted, to have a parent with him.
It won't raise any concerns about you as a parent

He can but when my 16 year old wanted to attend a neurology appointment without me I had to go in a sign a form at reception first. I wouldn’t take it for granted that he can just rock up without you informing them first

I was in the dentist one day and they refused to see a school boy in his uniform because he didn’t have a parent with him. He looked about 15 /16 They were speaking to his parents on the phone to explain why there had to be a parent present. I’m not sure it applies to drs/hospitals appts.

I was called in because I had not acompanied my 17 year old into the hospital (was in car park), despite the letter saying all over 16s need to go in alone 🤷‍♀️.

I was in a GP surgery when the gp refused an appointment with a 15 yr old coz the dad had been held up in traffic. They managed to fit the teen in when dad arrived. Worth checking, I’d say.

I’d phone the fracture clinic first thing, explain the problem and see what they say. May be possible to reschedule for a more convenient day. It’s probably fine if the injury’s all fine, but more tricky if it’s not.

I'd not assume it will be ok. I took my DD age 14 to a hospital physio appointment, was running late so parked, raced to appointment with her then asked if the appointment could start while I nipped off to get a parking ticket. They asked her age then replied that I would need to attend with her.