Young People
How to get an appointment
Either telephone the Surgery or call in – the phone can be quite busy first thing in the morning so please be patient. You can either ask for a face to face appointment with either the Doctor or Nurse or a telephone consultation when the Doctor or Nurse will phone you back.
If you have internet access you can book a Doctor's appointment online - just click on the "Online Services" page on this website. You will need to register your e-mail address with the Practice to get a user name and password.
If you need emergency contraception then please don’t be embarrassed – if you tell the Receptionist then she will get someone to phone you or see you and arrange for you to have a prescription. We are a NO WORRIES Surgery so we offer Emergency Contraception/STI appointments for patients from outside our catchment area aswell as our own patients.
If you are worried about sexually transmitted infections then we have lots of free leaflets available – you can either see the Doctor or Nurse (you can see a female doctor if you prefer although we don’t have any male nurses). If you don’t want to see a member of our team here then we can give you the contact details of other agencies that can help.
How do I get results of tests
When you have a test done, ask the Doctor or Nurse how to get your results – usually if a result is abnormal we try to contact you to let you know (you will only be asked to phone the Surgery). Please let us know how best to reach you – if you do not want us to contact you under any circumstance then please let us know and we will respect your wishes. This leads on to the subject of confidentiality which often worries young people – see below for details.
What happens if we can’t sort out all your problems at the Surgery?
Certain problems can be difficult for us to deal with at the Surgery as you may be best seen by a different professional. For instance you may need to be seen by a hospital Doctor. Drug and alcohol problems are best tackled by people with more expertise although we can all give basic advice.
If you need a referral and do not wish to go to Hospital then please ask – for instance if you have an unplanned pregnancy you may wish to be seen elsewhere.
Can I see a Doctor or Nurse without my parents if I am under 16?
Yes, you can, although obviously if you are unwell then we would encourage you to bring someone with you for support. If you want to talk about personal issues – contraception, unplanned pregnancy, STI’s etc. then you do not have to come with your parents – you can come alone, bring a school friend or your partner. Doctors and nurses and all other staff follow very strict guidelines on confidentiality – see our section on “confidentiality” which explains this.
Your right to confidential service
DOH Guide to consent for young people
Even if you are under 16, you still have the same rights to confidentiality as anyone else and you should not be treated any differently.
Will the Doctor tell my parents or show them my medical records?
No - Doctors and Nurses (and in fact all our staff) have very strict rules on confidentiality and whom they share medical information with.
In exceptional circumstances, like when a Doctor or health worker thinks you might be in serious danger, they might feel there is a need to pass information on, but, even if they do, they must talk to you first before they tell anyone else. This applies to everyone, no matter what age you are.
What if I’m under 13?
Government guidance for workers in England means that they are likely to be more worried about young people under 13 who are having sex and might think it would be in the young person’s interest to get some extra help from a social worker.
More advice
If you are still worried about confidentiality, you can always call your Doctor’s Surgery without telling them who you are and ask them some questions, like:
- Is the information that I give you kept confidential?
- Do you ever tell anyone else about young people who ask for contraception or advice about sex?
- Would you ever tell anyone else about my visit without telling me first?
- Some people don’t want to go to their own doctor because they feel embarrassed or because they have known them for a long time, but don’t worry, there are lots of other places you can go.
A Receptionist’s job is very hard!
Sometimes, there are days when lots of people want appointments and there are not enough to go round – the Receptionists might then ask why you need to be seen to see if your request can be met without taking up an appointment. If you feel you cannot tell them – (remember they were all your age once and remember what it was like!) – then please ask to speak to the Doctor or our Nurse Practitioner on a telephone consultation.
Look after your Health
Your health is very precious – look after it! We can provide treatment to help you stop smoking, give advice abut healthy lifestyles and, in certain cases, provide help with weight loss. If you are going abroad, ask about travel vaccinations. If you are planning to have a baby, ask for advice about how best to prepare for it.
Going away to College/University
You may be asked to register with a new GP near your College or University – however, you can still come to us for medical care during the holidays – called ‘temporary registration’. We can give you prescriptions then, too.
As part of Wiltshire's plan to support children and young people's mental health, we are making better use of digital services including the launch of a new website focussing on mental health. This website will provide key links to local and national helping services, as well as a growing range of short articles on related issues.
Confidentiality and consent is very important to us all at the Surgery.
The principles of confidentiality apply equally to all patients regardless of age. Young people (including those under 16) are entitled to equal confidentiality male or female as all other patients.
Most of our staff are trained ‘Chaperones’ if you would like a chaperone present at your consultation please let us know. We can arrange an appointment for you with a suitable trained chaperone.
"No Worries" Appointments
This service offers confidential contraception advice, treatment and support for those aged between 13 and 19. You may access this service by contacting the Surgery and asking for a ‘No Worries’ appointment. Wherever possible we will offer you a same day appointment at a time convenient with you. This service is available to ALL 13-19 year olds even if you are not a registered patient at Ramsbury & Wanborough Surgery.
At the Surgery we have trained ‘Stop Smoking Advisors’ who offer smoking cessation support and advice. If you would like to stop smoking please contact the Surgery to book an appointment.
Feedback from young people is very important to the Surgery and we are constantly reviewing our services supporting the young people within our community. If you have any comments or suggestions please let us know.