All employees working in the NHS are bound by a legal duty of confidentiality. This means that they are obliged to keep strictly confidential any person-identifiable information.
At the Nordhaven Clinic we will ask you before sending any information to your GP.
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Young People
You can talk to your doctor for confidential information and advice (even if you're under 16) about contraception and sexual health including Sexually Transmited Infection testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, free emergency contraception and condoms. If you're worried about confidentiality, talk to your doctor.
If you're under 16 and want contraception, an abortion or tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the doctor, nurse or pharmacist won't tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe that you fully understand the information you're given, and your decisions.
They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents or carers, but they won't make you. You have the same rights to confidentiality as an adult (someone who is 16 or over).
If the healthcare worker feels that you understand the information and can make your own decision, you can get the following:
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Even if the doctor, nurse or pharmacist feels that you're not mature enough to make a decision yourself, the consultation will still be confidential. They won't tell anyone that you saw them, or anything about what you said.
The only time a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first.
The situation is different for people under 13 because the law says that people of this age can't consent (say yes) to sexual activity. Doctors, nurses and health workers might feel it's in your best interests to involve other people, such as a social worker, if you're under 13.