Your Health, Your Rights: A Teen’s Guide

What can I do as a young person? The facts at a glance

Young people are entitled to receive safe, effective healthcare. 

If you are under 16 and have the capacity to make decisions (more on this later), you can:

• Register with a GP practice
• Collect prescriptions
• Go to GP and hospital appointments alone
• Use sexual health services
• Go to the dentist
• Consent to treatment

Some of these will depend on the judgement of healthcare staff.

Once you turn 16:

• Healthcare staff should treat you as an adult
• You can make your own decisions about your health
• Staff should only share your information if they believe there's a serious risk to you or others, or you don't have capacity to make decisions.

Going to the doctor

If you are under 16, it’s a good idea to have a guardian with you at health appointments. But we know that this might not be possible.

If you’re under 16 your guardian usually needs to register you at a GP practice. It is possible to register or to make an appointment by yourself if you’re under 16, but they might ask some questions to make sure you’re okay.

Once you turn 16, doctors and nurses should treat you like an adult. This means you can make your own decisions about your health and your treatment.

If your guardian had access to your online medical records (this is called ‘proxy access’), this access should be removed once you turn 16.

Whatever your age, most of the time GP staff will keep your information private - unless there's a serious risk to you or someone else.

It is important to know that doctors will often use their judgement and your experience may vary depending on who you see. You can speak to the doctor about your concerns if you're worried about the information they'll share. You also have the right to see a different doctor if you want.

Sexual Health Services

Sexual health services include STI screening and treatment, contraception, pregnancy tests, and information & advice. These services are free and available to everyone.

If you are 13 or over, anything you say is confidential. If you are under 13, your information will legally have to be shared.

There is no shame in accessing sexual health services, they are non-judgmental and open to everyone regardless of gender, race or sexuality. Most will offer a chaperone service if you require it and you are welcome to bring a friend along with you. 

What is available in Sheffield?

Sexual Health Sheffield provides free support and treatment to anyone who needs it. They are based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital (entrance 11a B Road). Visit their website www.sexualhealthsheffield.nhs.uk to understand more about  the services they offer, or call them on 0114 226 8888.

How do the Youth Clinics work?

If you are under 18 you can go to the Sexual Health Sheffield Youth Clinic. Drop ins are available on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:00pm - 6:00pm. 

The youth clinic is completely confidential if you are 13 or older. If a guardian calls, they will not be given any information about your treatment, or even your attendance.

There are select examples where this confidentiality will be broken such as abuse, statutory rape or a significant risk to you or someone else.

Mental Health Services

If you’re under 16, your guardian needs to give consent for a referral to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). If you’re 16 or over then you can seek support without their consent.

Confidentiality:

If you’re 16 or over, personal information about you and your mental health will usually be kept private by professionals. There are exceptions if your clinician believes you are a risk to yourself or others, or do not have capacity to make decisions. Then, they might speak to your guardian or other professionals.

If you’re under 16, your guardian will usually be involved in your support, and they will have access to your information. If you are concerned about this, please speak to the staff member you are seeing so you can get a clearer understanding of what they will share.

Other places you can go for help:

There are national charities offering guidance and support, including:

Shout - a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service. Text them: 85258 or visit giveusashout.org

Samaritans - a charity providing a free, confidential phone line for those struggling to cope. Call them: 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

Young Minds - a charity providing lots of information specifically for young people. Find them: youngminds.org.uk

There are local charities and groups too; you can find out about lots of these through the Sheffield Mental Health Guide: sheffieldmentalhealth.co.uk, or call them on 0114 273 7009

Gender-affirming care

Transgender and non-binary people have the same rights to confidentiality as a cisgender person. Healthcare professionals should not dismiss your feelings or discriminate against you.

Hormone treatments are available around the age of 16, but this works on a case-by-case basis. The first step is going to your GP.

Young people will always be strongly advised to inform their guardian.

Information and support:

SAYiT - a Sheffield charity with meetings and events for LGBT+ young people. Visit sayit.org.uk or call 0114 201 2633

Transactual UK - in-depth information about trans rights, UK laws, and transgender people’s experiences. Visit transactual.org.uk

Dental Care

Dental care is free if you are under 18, or if you are under 19 and still in full-time education. Check out the NHS website to understand more exemptions.

Your guardian can ask to see your dental records if you’re under 16.

Once you turn 16, you can consent to dental treatment by yourself and won’t have to tell your guardian. However, you will be encouraged to tell them especially for more major treatment.