Young People
How do I make an appointment?
There are several ways to make an appointment
- Practice website
- Reception desk
- Over the phone
- NHS App
What happens in an appointment
Doctors and nurses can give you help and advice about any of the worries you have about your body and your health.
It’s important that you feel comfortable talking to doctors and nurses. It can be awkward and embarrassing talking to adults about your worries
but just remember we’re here to help you stay healthy.
All of our doctors and nurses have up-to-date information on health issues young people might face. Remember you can take someone with you if you want to.
Confidentiality
We provide a confidential service to all our patients, including under 16s. This means that you can be sure that anything you discuss with any member of the practice – doctor, nurse or receptionist – will remain private.
Nothing will be said to anyone including parents, other family members, care workers or teachers/tutors without your permission.
The only reason why we might have to consider passing on confidential information without your permission, would be to protect you or someone else from very serious harm. We would always try to discuss this with you first.
Emotional Health
Everyone struggles to cope with their feelings sometimes. It’s important to look after your emotional health as well as your physical health.
Top tips
- Accept yourself – no-one’s perfect and everyone has something to offer.
- Get involved in new things and meet new people.
- Exercise regularly – find something you enjoy!
- Eat well – don’t forget your fruit and veg!
- Find time to relax e.g. read, listen to music, watch a film.
- Talk about how you feel with someone you trust.
Most importantly, ask for help when you need it – don’t struggle on your own. Come and see a doctor or nurse and we’ll listen to you and support you.
Sexual Health
Embarrassing – isn’t it – but you will have questions you want answers to. Remember you don’t actually have to be having sex to ask for advice – and everything is kept confidential.
What sexual health services do we provide?
- Testing for Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections
- Contraception (pill, implant, injection)
- Emergency contraception (morning after pill)
- Free condoms
- Pregnancy testing
- Abortion referrals
The legal age to consent to have sex is 16 whether you are straight, gay or bisexual. The law is there to protect you from abuse and exploitation, and keep you safe. Whatever your age, you shouldn’t have sex until you feel ready. You still have the right to confidential advice on sexual health even if you are under 16.
The NHS offer a C Card scheme which is a free and confidential service offering free condoms, sexual health information and support to all young people aged 13-25. For more information please click on the following link https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/services/sexual-health/c-card/
Contraception
Remember contraception is free! There are many different forms of contraception – it’s important to get the right kind of contraception for you.
Hormonal contraception (e.g. pill, injection, implant) can protect you from unwanted pregnancies but you will still need to use condoms to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections. You can get free condoms by getting yourself a C-card from our practice.
Sexually transmitted infections are passed on through any kind of unprotected sexual activity. There are lots of different types of STI. Symptoms can include :
- itching,
- burning when you pee,
- bleeding between periods,
- discharge,
- rashes etc.
Know your own bits and know what’s normal for you. If you notice any changes get checked out.
Drugs
Are you worried about your own drug taking? Do you know someone who is abusing or misusing drugs? If you’re concerned about drugs, it’s good to know the facts about how they can affect you physically and mentally. Drug users don’t start using drugs to become addicted on purpose. But with many drugs containing substances that are addictive, people who use them casually in their spare time can then become regular users.
Reasons why people start using drugs can include:
- to escape problems they may be having in other parts of their life
- peer pressure and fitting in with another group of people
- being curious about the effects of drugs
Becoming dependent on drugs can affect your family and friends. It can also have a serious impact on your own physical and mental well-being. Don’t feel under pressure to try drugs if you don’t want to.
Services For Me
Here are some services that help young people stay healthy…
Streetwise Young People’s Project: advice, sexual health, guidance and counselling for young people aged 13-25 years old living in the North East.
MESMAC: community support service for gay and bisexual men. Website includes local support services for LGBT people living in the North East.
Chlamydia Screening Programme: sexual health information for young people in the North East.
Young minds: the voice for young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
111 service: if you have health worries the 111 service have the knowledge and experience to help and reassure.
talktofrank: got a question about drugs? the answer is here
change4life: eat well, move more, live longer
Childline: helpline for young people in distress or danger
Stop smoking service: help and advice about stopping smoking
Contraception toolkit: help choose the best contraception for you
Useful Local Links
Locality Inclusion Support Team (LIST)
Northumbria Hospital Children’s Services
Help and Support
If we can’t help we can recommend childline as a safe place to call if you need help or support with problems.
Childline
0800 11 11 (24 hours)
What if I am under 16?
You have the right to come to at least one appointment without a parent or carer. The doctor or nurse will decide if they think you are ready to make your own decisions about your health. If they don’t think you’re quite ready yet they’ll ask you to bring a parent or carer next time.
- You have the right to confidentiality. This means you can tell others about your visit but we won’t
- Confidentiality can be broken if we think you are in serious danger. Although we will talk to you first
- You have the right to confidential advice about sexual health
- If you want to bring a friend with you that’s ok
Information for my Parents/Carers
Dear parents/carer
When your child reaches 14 years old they may choose to access health care independently. A lot of young people still want to come to medical appointments with their parents but some prefer to come on their own, especially as they get older.As you know the teenage years can be a difficult transitional period.
By providing a young people friendly service at Prudhoe Medical Group we are aiming to help your child take responsibility for their health as they move into adulthood. We have written to your child with information about the surgery which we hope they will find useful.If your child chooses to come to a medical appointment on their own.
We will:
- Encourage them to discuss their health concerns with their parent/guardian (s) if they are under 16 years old.
- If they are under 16 years old we will agree to see them on their own for at least one appointment to assess their ability to consent to medical treatment. If they are over 16 years old they are presumed to have the maturity and understanding to make decisions on their own.
We will not:
- Break their confidentiality by discussing their problems with anyone unless we have their consent to do so. We may break this confidentiality if there are serious concerns about the young person’s safety.
- Offer young people treatment that is not in their best interest.
We want to work together with you to help your child to develop into a happy, healthy adult.
