Brook's position on confidentiality

Confidentiality is one of Brook's core values.

Brook believes that confidentiality is the cornerstone of a successful teenage sexual health service. Even in the Netherlands, where attitudes towards teenage sex are very open, teenagers want contraceptive services to be completely confidential.

The provision of accessible and confidential young people's advisory services in conjunction with effective sex and relationships education has been shown by international research to delay first intercourse and increase contraceptive use when young people do become sexually active.

Brook will continue to advocate for the confidentiality of young people's services and to ensure that young people understand that they are entitled to a confidential consultation.

The duty of confidentiality

The professional codes of practice of doctors, nurses and other health professionals place a duty on them not to disclose information about individual patients without their consent except in exceptional circumstances.

The duty of confidentiality towards young people is the same as that owed to adults. Even if the young person is not considered sufficiently mature to consent to contraceptive treatment, the consultation can remain confidential. Where confidentiality is breached, the health professional may have to justify the decision to their professional body.

Young people's views of confidentiality

Young people think that confidentiality should mean that staff cannot repeat anything they say to anyone and that when situations arise when information has to be passed on it will only be done with their permission. They are not convinced that this is the situation in reality. They fear not only deliberate breaches of confidentiality but informal, inadvertent breaches and the interception of confidential post by their parents. [1]

Fear over lack of confidentiality remains one of the biggest deterrents to young people seeking help. One survey found that 25% of women under 16 at the time of first intercourse did not attend services because of worries about confidentiality compared with 12% who were over 16.[2]

Anxiety about confidentiality, nervousness about being told off and fear of the unknown can far outweigh the seemingly remote risk of pregnancy or infection. The same survey found that under 16s were six times more likely to mention worries about confidentiality and fear of being too young as deterrents– not to having sex – but to visiting a clinic for contraceptive advice. [3]

Teenagers want reassurance about confidentiality at every step, from information in school sex education, to posters and leaflets in the surgery and verbal assurance in each consultation. Only then will they start to believe that a service is safe to use. [4]

The Teenage Pregnancy Unit has recognised the crucial importance of confidentiality to young people in its guidance on the provision of effective services and reaffirms that the duty of confidentiality to young people is the same as for older patients.[5]

Brook provides free and confidential sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. Brook is a registered charity number 239966.