Young people have a right to privacy when receiving healthcare. At The Ivers Practice, we do not routinely provide parents or guardians with NHS App or other online proxy access from a young person’s 11th birthday up to their 16th birthday.
Proxy access means using your own online account to access someone else’s GP services. Without this access, parents and guardians cannot use a linked account to view the young person’s record, consultations or test results, or to book appointments or order prescriptions on their behalf.
You can still ask us for help
Parents and guardians can still contact us about their child’s healthcare. You can use our online consultation service to request an appointment, ask for a repeat prescription where appropriate, or raise a clinical query. This does not give you access to the young person’s medical record.
Young people can also contact us themselves. If you cannot use the online service, contact the practice for help. We may check who is making a request and their relationship to the young person, and may contact the young person directly.
Privacy and appointments
Parents and guardians are welcome to accompany a young person, subject to their wishes and the clinician’s judgement. We may offer the young person time to speak privately. We encourage support from a parent, guardian or trusted adult where appropriate.
We respect confidentiality. There are circumstances where information may need to be shared, including a legal requirement or a safeguarding concern. Read more about confidentiality for teenagers.
Individual requests and existing access
If a young person needs help managing their healthcare, ask us to consider their circumstances. A clinician will assess their understanding, wishes and safety, and decide whether any proxy access is appropriate. Existing access is reviewed individually as young people grow older.
When a young person turns 16
Parental proxy access does not continue automatically. Ongoing access normally needs the young person’s consent. Where they cannot make that decision, a clinician will assess what is appropriate.