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Brook welcomes decision on
confidentiality
Jo Lloyd, Centre Manager of Wigan & Leigh Brook, the sexual health charity
for young people, has welcomed yesterday’s announcement that young
people will continue to be entitled to confidential sexual health
advice.
A judicial review of the Department of Health’s Guidance for
Professionals on the Provision of Advice and Treatment to Young People
under 16 on Contraception, Sexual and Reproductive Health, supported the
current practice of confidentiality, which health professionals have
followed for the past twenty years.
Jo Lloyd said: “I very much hope that we can now draw a line under the
unhelpful debate about whether young people should be able to get
confidential sexual health advice. What matters is ensuring young people
can get the information and support they need; and we know that
confidentiality is their top concern when they want advice on sexual
health issues.
"In a recent Brook survey three quarters of under-16s said they would be
less likely to seek sexual health advice if they thought information
could be passed on to others. Removing the right to confidentiality
would have left more young people at risk of unplanned pregnancy and
sexually transmitted infections.
"Now young people can continue to seek advice, knowing that their
confidentiality will be respected."
A recent poll commissioned by Brook revealed overwhelming public support
for confidential advice services for young people: 94% of people agreed
that young people who don’t feel able to talk to their parents about sex
and relationships should be able to get confidential information and
advice elsewhere. Yesterday's decision upholds their right to do so.
Brook launched its campaign, Wise Up! Your Rights on Sexual Health in
October 2005, in response to concerns that young people’s right to
confidentiality was being threatened. The campaign aims to uphold that
right and to increase awareness of all young people’s rights on sexual
health.
Young people can contact Brook free and in confidence on 0800 0185 023
or online via Ask Brook at
http://www.brook.org.uk
–ends–
Notes to editors
Further information
• The judicial review of the Department of Health’s Guidance for
Professionals on Provision of Advice and Treatment to Young People Under
16 on Contraception, Sexual and Reproductive Health, initiated by Mrs
Sue Axon, was heard in the High Court on 8-10 November 2005.
• In a survey published for the launch of the Wise Up! campaign 91% of
respondents under the age of 16 said that health professionals should
not be allowed to tell others about their visits. More information about
that survey is available at:
http://www.brook.org.uk/content/M6_3_wiseupsurvey.asp
• The Wise Up! campaign has gained the support of a range of influential
organisations representing health professionals and young people,
including the General Medical Council, the British Medical Association,
the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of
Nursing, the UK Youth Parliament, the National Youth Agency, Action on
Rights for Children, Childline ,the fpa, the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Faculty of Family Planning and
Reproductive Health Care.
• An opinion poll carried out by GfK NOP on Brook’s behalf revealed
that:
- 94% of people agreed that young people who don’t feel able to talk to
their parents about sex and relationships should be able to get
confidential information and advice elsewhere
- 70% disagreed with the idea that making it possible for young people
to get confidential sexual health advice and services leads them to
start having sex earlier
GfK NOP Consumer carried out the survey of 988 adults aged 16 and above
between 16 and 18 December 2005. The sample was designed and the data
weighted to be representative of all adults in telephone owning
households in the UK. Interviews were carried out by telephone using
Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing.
• Brook is the country’s leading provider of free, confidential sexual
health advice and contraception to young people under 25. The charity
has 40 years’ experience of providing impartial and confidential sexual
health advice and services to young people through a national network of
17 centres across the UK. Each year Brook provides more than 100,000
young people with professional advice from specially trained doctors,
nurses, counsellors and outreach and information workers.
•
For more information contact Angela Kirk, Young People’s Press
Officer for the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, on 01942 828923 or
e-mail
A.Kirk@wlct.org
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