Confidentiality

Sexual health clinics, contraception clinics, and GP surgeries provide a confidential service. This means they will keep your information private. This applies if you are 13 years old or over.

Confidentiality may only be broken in exceptional circumstances, like when a doctor or health worker thinks you or others might be in serious danger. In cases like this 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. The only exception is if there is an extreme situation where they didn’t feel able to speak to the person first before sharing information.

If you’re under 13 years old

If you are under 13, the situation is different, because the law says that children under 13 cannot consent (say yes) to sexual activity. Doctors, nurses, or health workers are more likely to feel it's in your best interests to involve other people, such as a social worker.

Your sexual health records

The way we store sexual health information is changing, find out more information.

Consent to treatment

When we offer you any treatment, we will check that you understand the information we’ve given you, that you can make your own decisions, and can tell us what you would like to do. This is called consenting to treatment.  

Sometimes, people need extra support to give consent. For example, if they don’t speak English or they have learning difficulties. We offer extra support in these cases, such as:

  • translation services
  • involving support workers to help you make the right decision for you. This may include people who already care for you. 

If there’s something we can do to support you, please tell our staff on the reception desk or contact us before your visit.  

We will never begin treatment without valid consent.  

For information on sex and consent, see our Sex and the law page.

Young people

Any competent young person aged 13 or over can consent to treatment, including contraception and sexual and reproductive healthcare. They are said to be competent if they are capable of fully understanding the nature and possible consequences of the treatment.

Consent from parents is not legally necessary, although the involvement of parents is encouraged (a parent is someone with legal parental responsibility – this is not always a biological parent).