Sky news interview - your thoughts needed on sex health clinics in schools

[carriemumsnet]

Going on Sky news to talk about this story

As always your thoughts appreciated.

I like to think my children can come to me with any problems, but I know that is not the same in all families, I think its good to have these clinics out there, I would rather the children talked to somebody who could help them than stress and worry and do nothing till its to late.

i think they are a good idea. i can see why the parents would be upset. but surely its better than your dd telling you about when they 3 months pg because they havent managed to find the courage?

plus they are there to advise and give out condoms so that not so many want the map! and teen could get it from a pharmacist, doctors or hospital anyway without thier parents knowing. this just means that advise and contraception is closer to hand and they are more likely to use it!

having contraceptives, advice and pregnancy tests available can't be a bad thing, surely.

IMO sex education should be up to the parents and from and early age but, failing that having a safe place to go is the next best thing.

A patient always has a right of confidentiality, as far as I am aware

These parents are arguing against that right, rather than arguing against clinics in schools

I certainly don't tell MY mother everything and I don't expect my children to tell me everything either - whether they are 13 or 33

And I don't see how access to medical care can be anything other than a fantastically good thing

If parents are massively against things like the MAP then they need to make sure they discuss it with their children

Fortunately mine are 5 and 2 so I can pontificate with authority

I'm glad these clinics exist and would be very happy if there was one at ds's school when he goes to secondary. Access to medical care is important especially for teenagers who are often reluctant to go to their family doctor with sexual health issues.

Obviously I hope ds will be able to talk to me about girlfriends and sex but if he is too embarrassed - or any future girlfriend can't talk to her parents - then I'd be relieved that he or she had somewhere to go that offered reliable information and support.

I'd rather he/any girlfriends didn't have sex too young, but if they did, I'd want that unbiased, sensible advice to be available for them and for any other kids who may have difficult home circumstances.

The parents who object they have to recognise that they can't control all aspects of their teenage children's lives and that medical confidentiality exists for very good reasons. That may be tough for them, but there's no getting round it.

(I may revise these views when ds actually is a teenager of course!)

I do have a teen (DS1, 19yrs) and as far as I know they don't have one of these clinics in the school he went to, but I would be all for it. Access to more information and help for teens can only be a good thing, and I know that my son doesn't always want to discuss these kind of topics with me (I would be rather worried if he did tbh). I also have a DD, and though she is not yet 2, I hope these kind of things are available to her in the future.

Thanks all for the feedback!

Thanks all for the feedback!

good to see that MNHQ double post too