Background: The views of primary health care providers concerning their willingness to consult with under-16-year-old adolescent patients without the presence of a parent or guardian are not well documented. Many young people believe they have to be aged over 16 years to see their general practitioner (GP) alone. Confidentiality is a major concern for young people. It is important that more is known about the willingness of GPs and practice nurses (PNs) to offer unaccompanied consultations without known parental consent.
Aim: To provide information on the willingness of GPs and PNs to consult with under-16-year-olds and whether policies exist in general practices to facilitate access by unaccompanied under-16-year-olds.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study using a postal questionnaire.
Setting: Seventeen general practices in the West of Cornwall.
Method: All GPs, PNs and receptionists were sent questionnaires.
Results: The overall response rate was 79% (166/209 questionnaires). The majority of GPs and PNs (91%) were willing to consult with unaccompanied under-16-year-olds. A substantial number of primary health care team members are not aware of the existence of any practice policy on access. Only 41% of receptionists, 46% of PNs and 38% of GPs were aware of a definite practice policy.
Conclusions: GPs and PNs are willing to consult with under-16-year-olds without a parent or guardian being present. Many practices in this region do not appear to have policies in place to guide health professionals on under-16 access issues.
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