Young People

Introduction

When you are young, your parents are usually involved in your health care. They may make decisions for you, and speak to health workers on your behalf, but as you get older you have more rights. People aged 16 or over are entitled to consent to their own treatment. This can only be overruled in exceptional circumstances.

Like adults, young people (aged 16 or 17) are presumed to have sufficient capacity to decide on their own medical treatment, unless there's significant evidence to suggest otherwise. Children under the age of 16 can consent to their own treatment if they're believed to have enough intelligence, competence and understanding to fully appreciate what's involved in their treatment. This is known as being Gillick competent.

Parental responsibility

Otherwise, someone with parental responsibility can consent for them.

This could be:

• the child's mother or father
• the child's legally appointed guardian
• a person with a residence order concerning the child
• a local authority designated to care for the child
• a local authority or person with an emergency protection order for the child

Further information

• NHS information
• Spotlight is Poplar HARCA’s award winning youth service based in Tower Hamlets. They offer welcoming, safe spaces for 11 to 19-year-olds and for SEND young people up to 25, from London and beyond. 
• Online access for medical records: Information for under-16s on parents and guardians accessing your doctor's services
• Youth Social prescriber: Can offer up to 6 sessions with a young person to help them reflect, set goals, and explore the right sign posting options for them. 
• Tower Hamlets mental health services: Mental health support for children and young people
• NHS youth forum and advisory network
• GP care group