Visiting your doctor

Anything you say to your doctor must be kept between the two of you, unless you agree otherwise. It might help to ask if they are going to tell anyone just to make sure. If they do, then they should ask your permission first, unless you are in danger or at risk of harm.

They might encourage you to tell someone like your parent or carer, or they can speak to them for you if you would prefer that. This is because sometimes it’s important for those looking after you to know what’s going on, as they may be able to help or support you.

The only time a doctor can speak to someone else about you without your permission is when there is a danger that your safety or someone else’s safety might be at risk. That doesn’t always mean that they tell your parent or carer, but they may want to speak to other people like the police or social services. In these cases, they should try to tell you first so you know what’s going on.

Every child, young person or adult has to be registered with a doctor. This is to make sure you get all the care that you need. And that someone can make sure you’re okay. This is important if you need long-term treatment or follow-up. If you want to find out how to register then go to the NHS Choices website. 

Anyone can make an appointment to see a doctor, no matter how old they are.  But if you’re under 16, you may be asked if anyone knows you are registering with the doctor. This is mainly to make sure that you’re safe.  If you don’t want others to know that you’ve seen a doctor, then you don’t have to tell anyone, but it may be important to do so. If you’re worried about your family’s reactions then speak to the doctor who you see as they may be able to help.

If you’re not registered then you can still see a doctor, but they will suggest that you get registered.  If you need to see someone in an emergency then you can always try to get an emergency appointment, or see a doctor in A&E (Accidents and emergencies department).  

You have the right to see a doctor by yourself if you want. You could speak to your doctor’s surgery directly to see if you can make an appointment to see someone by yourself. They may ask you why you want to be seen alone. You don’t have to go into detail, but it’s important to be as open and honest as you can to make sure you’re seen by the right person. If you’re finding this difficult, you could speak to a teacher at school or the school nurse to see if they can help or arrange an appointment for you.

You don’t have to tell anyone else that you’ve seen a doctor and everything you say will be kept confidential. But it may be important for others to be involved in your care (such as your parents or carers) so that they know what is going on and can help. So have a think about this and talk to your doctor about it. They may be able to talk to others for you if you find it difficult, and can offer them support if they need it too.

Everything that’s said between a doctor and patient is protected by something called confidentiality. This means they can’t share it with anyone else, unless you’ve given them permission to do so. And they should explain why they would need to. But, there are some rare situations when confidentiality has to be broken. Your doctor should explain this to you and you should be able to ask questions if you’re unsure about anything.

Your medical history is confidential and kept between you and your doctor. That confidentiality is only broken in very specific situations, otherwise they need permission to share your information. If an employer wants medical information about you then they need to ask your permission before contacting your doctor. But, remember that it may be important that your employer knows if you have serious health issues, in case they can help you or you need time off for any treatment.

Bowel and bladder problems can be embarrassing, so people don't like talking about them. Lots of young people have wee or poo accidents or find it hard to do a poo. It can feel like you’re the only one, but it’s actually quite common.

In the UK, nearly one million young people aged 5-19 have a continence condition (difficulty controlling wee and poo). So the chances are, there are other people at your school or college who have the same problem, but you just don't know who they are.

The good news is, you can do something about your problem, and help is available. ERIC, The Children's Bowel & Bladder Charity has lots of information on their website for:

• children and teenagers about bowel problems (constipation and soiling)
• enuresis (wetting during the day) and
• nocturnal enuresis (wetting at night))

If you or someone else is worried, ERIC runs a helpline for anyone to talk confidentially about your problem and how you're feeling. You can email the helpline at [email protected] or call 0845 370 8008 (calls cost 9.6p per minute plus the connection charge).

Remember it's important to see your GP or school nurse about your problem as soon as possible. The sooner you get help, the easier it will be to sort it out and you’ll stop it from getting more serious.