New GMC Guidance will benefit 450,000 young people in Northern Ireland

Friday 12 October 07

New guidance launched Thursday 27th of September outlines doctors’ roles and responsibilities towards the 450,000 children and young people in Northern Ireland. This is the first time that doctors’ specific duties in this area have been defined by the General Medical Council (GMC), the regulator for over 6,000 doctors locally and 240,000 across the UK.

This new guidance will have a particular impact in Northern Ireland where under 18s make up over a quarter of the population. These young people need to be protected from harm and rely on others for their well-being. But they are also individuals with rights. It can be challenging for doctors to balance these competing interests (see examples in case study below). 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors sets out the GMC’s expectations and will help doctors make decisions that are ethical, lawful and in the best interests of children and young people.

All doctors have a role to play in promoting children and young people’s welfare. The new guidance applies not only to GPs and paediatricians but to all doctors whose patients care for (or are cared for by) children and young people. The guidance states that all doctors have a duty to consider their needs and welfare and always act in their best interests. It covers a wide range of issues including: confidentiality; assessing a young person’s ability to make decisions about their treatment; child protection; sexual activity and contraception; access to medical records, and research involving children.

The publication follows a three-month consultation with over 350 responses received from under 18s and nearly 600 from individual doctors, parents, organisations and the public. Young people have been involved through the drafting of the guidance, giving us their views in the written consultation and directly taking part in workshops around the UK. The cover of the new booklet also has a strong Northern Ireland theme having been designed by 13-year-old Paul McAleenan from Banbridge, who won the GMC’s UK-wide poster competition. He then produced the cover design which will promote the guidance to all 240,000 doctors in the UK.

The guidance states that doctors must:

· involve children and young people directly in discussions about their care and take their views seriously

· consider factors including the child or parent’s cultural or religious beliefs or values when assessing those best interests

· provide clear and appropriate information to children about their condition and treatment

· respect children and young people’s confidences, being aware that the same duties of confidentiality apply as with adults.

Barney McNeaney, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Commission for Children and Young People said:

“NICCY welcomes the General Medical Council’s Guidance for doctors. We hope this will mean better and more responsive services for all children and young people.

“Children and young people tell NICCY that too often they are not properly listened to by professionals. They have the right to have their voices heard; to be listened to and to have their views taken seriously by those whose job it is to look after them.

“The GMC has taken an important step in producing this guidance; building on all of the good work that we know takes place every day between many doctors and their young patients; and seeking to improve practice where their voices are not heard at all”.

What do YOU think about this? How do you feel doctors in Northern Ireland treat/should treat young people? Use our Forum and let everyone know what you think!