When do teens go to GP on own?

[JustDanceAddict]

Mine haven’t yet and obviously I would go w them if they wanted me to (sometimes they want me to drive but it’s walking distance). DS -15 - asked and I don’t specifically know. He goes to the orthodontist on his own so what’s the difference if it’s just a routine appointment (so no worries attached)?
I realise I could ask at the surgery but always forget!

[Macca84]

I've been wondering this myself. I went on my own from 12/13 (my parents were very "hands off"), but now I've got a DD only a few years younger than this it seems ridiculously young to me! I'd guess 15 is fine though.

[NerrSnerr]

But my mum doesn't know that I went without her so if she was answering this thread she'd say that under no circumstances would her child go alone when they were under 16.

[NerrSnerr]

I started going alone when I was 13 or 14. I used to get UTIs and my mum used to just suggest cranberry juice instead of getting medical advice so I sorted it myself.

What do kids with equally shit parents do if a GP won't see them alone until they're 16 or if they have a pregnancy scare or have personal issues they don't want their parents to know about (I certainly couldn't have discussed periods etc with my mum).

[Blondebear123]

I'm a dentist and I wouldn't see an under 16 without an adult present. They dont take anything in or listen. Also if for example they need a filling/ tooth out they may choose to ignore it or not tell the parent then months later when tooth now is sore parent cross with dentist for 'not diagnosising' when it's the child who just simply is too young to care. Risk of negligence too high. So for a go appointment I would go then in surgery ask the gp if they want u to stay or not then it can be noted in the records

[notacooldad]

DoS was 14 when he first went with a minor complaint. He had picked his toe nail so Vader he got an infection. He was able to pick up his prescription from what I recall. This was 9 years ago.
He made the appointment himself . I offered to go when he said that he made an appointment but looked at me like I had two heads and said he was quite capable of saying he had a sore toe! 😂

[Firefliess]

I think it's something they need to be confident doing by 18, as they'll need to go alone if they leave home. And I would generally expect to go with them under 16 unless it's very routine (such as a review of an ongoing condition). Between that it's just a case of how confident they are, whether they want you there, and whether it's an appointment where there's real decisions to be made. My DD (16) normally pushes for independence at every opportunity, but thinks that I am better at being assertive than her so sometimes likes me to come along if she thinks she might get fobbed off. I try to let her lead the discussion though, and would do that from about 12 up, as practice for them.

[Gingerkittykat]

My DD was 13 the first time she went alone,small village surgery where the GP knew the family well. I've been to some appointments with her since, but mostly she goes alone.

I do still go to her kidney specialist appointments with her, partly because she needs me to drive but she is still happy for me to be in the room and Dr happy for me to be there.

[soggypizza]

Ds(14) got a phone call from the GP one Saturday - GP wouldn't tell me why he wished to speak to DS - turns out they were trying to encourage teen boys to attend the surgery alone to talk about any health concerns - I still find it a bit weird, I'm perfectly relaxed about ds attending alone if he wants.

[HUZZAH212]

I think it depends on why they go there. I'm 40 and accessed the GP on my own at 14 for the pill related to hormonal imbalance, (I'm very close to my mum but felt like it was my body/choice/personal discussion so I wasn't keen to fetch her along). By contrast my Dd at 17 asked me to accompany her to the GPs for a similar conversation, and they asked me to leave the room when it came to discussing her sexual activity in privacy (although she then said she was happy for me to sit in for it). I definately feel children should be allowed to access a GP alone whenever they choose to. Or else it opens up an adult controlling bodily autonomy over them. Which in worse case abuse scenarios could happen.

[SnowsInWater]

16yo DD insists I come with her. Last time we went it was clear to me that the lovely GP would have preferred to have the "how are you coping with your mum's cancer" conversation with her without me being there and I offered to leave the room but DD said no. I couldn't access my kids' Medicare (Aus) records online once they turned 14 so I think that is the age they expect here.

[krustykittens]

I don' think my GP is keen to see anyone under the age of 16 on their own, but I am not sure if it is a policy, However, the school is a five minute walk from a sexual health clinic that sees pupils without a parent present and my DDs often use that instead of going into the GP as they find the GP cannot see them quickly and the clinic does walk in surgeries during school lunch times and after school. They have issues with periods and have found them to be great. It might be worth seeing if there is a similar set up near your son's school that they can use, if they want to.

[IamHyouweegobshite]

I assumed it was 16, as the dentist and optitions refused to see my 15 year old without an adult being there.

[Aragog]

*SherbetSaucer
It depends on what the appointment is for though, surely. A routine appointment - fine. Something more serious - even grown adults often prefer someone o come in with them then.

[Aragog]

My gp won't see under 16s without an adult present.

This is fine so long as they always have a chaperone available to sit in, if a younger person comes in alone. It is important that under 16s can be seen without their parent/carer in some circumstances.

[leonardthelemming]

I too am surprised that some GP practices are refusing to see under-16s without an adult present. In fact I'm concerned - I thought they couldn't do that.

This link:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/yth-rights-in-hlthcr-more-info.jpg

is to the Youth Rights poster which I saw displayed at my GP's practice. If I were under 16 and had been turned away I think I would be looking at the right-hand column.

I used to attend medical appointments unaccompanied at 15. That was a long time ago - before the Gillick case.

[ChasingRainbows19]

Back in the 1990's I went on my own about 13/14. I regularly had chest infections that needed antibiotics so it was no big deal.

Obviously times change but I don't think it's a bad thing when they feel ready to.
Patients with paediatrics/long term conditions are sometimes encouraged to speak to doctors themselves at appointments as they get ready to turn 16 as you are often treated as an adult eg admitted to an adult ward/no parents on the ward all the time etc

Surprising that they don't allow u16 alone at GP anymore. What if they had confidential problems?they may not be able to seek help. A chaperone from the surgery could help with safeguarding?

[SeaSidePebbles]

sherbet, on what are you basing your opinion?
Because I can’t see any molly-coddling when DD is turned away from the appointment and told to come back with an adult 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Sadik]

I guess it depends what it's for SherbetSaucer - I'm 50, and there are times when I like to have a second person along in an appointment whether for moral support / so someone else has heard all the options & is able to talk it through with me later.

Obviously that's not relevant if you're talking about a minor ear infection, but often teens may be going to appointments where there are treatment / referral choices to be made etc.

[SherbetSaucer]

16 and above is WAY old enough to see the GP by themselves! Little bit of molly-coddling happening here!

[SeaSidePebbles]

Where we are, it’s 16 for both GP and dentist.

[MrsFionaCharming]

I’m really shocked at the surgery that won’t allow under 16s to come alone. That seems to be asking for teenage pregnancy and for abuse to go unreported.

[Sadik]

Last time dd went to the Drs - just turned 17 - I went to the surgery with her (at her request), but she went in to see the GP alone. My feeling is that it's good to get in the way of it before they need to when they start living away from home. Dentist / optician similarly - though I met her at the end of of her last opticians appt to help her choose glasses (having said that I'd take her to give me a 2nd opinion if I needed new frames).

[Babyfg]

My gp won't see under 16s without an adult present. It was a new rule brought in a couple of years ago. I think they cover their backs a lot as if you need to undress or anything they ask another member of staff to be in the room too. They may just be extra

[Babyfg]

My go won't see under 16s without an adult present. It was a new rule brought in a couple of years ago. I think they cover their backs a lot as if you need to undress or anything they ask another member of staff to be in the room too. They may just be extra

[Arewedone]

Dd wanted me to go with her at 16 as she wasn’t confident but I felt really uncomfortable when the GP openly asked Dd if it was her request to have me there as by law at 16 they do not require adults present. Half way through the GP asked me to leave the room so she could speak confidentiality to Dd. Realise all GPS maybe different but ours are all about safeguarding so 16 seems to be the age they don’t want parents in the consultation.