23 January 2006
Brook welcomes judicial review decision
Jan Barlow, Chief Executive of Brook, the sexual health charity for young people, has welcomed today’s decision in the judicial review of the Department of Health’s guidance for professionals on sexual health advice for under-16s.
She said:
“This decision upholds the guidance that health professionals have been following for 20 years. I very much hope that we can now draw a line under the unhelpful debate about whether young people should be able to get confidential sexual health advice.
“What matters is ensuring young people can get the information and support they need; and we know that confidentiality is their top concern when they want advice on sexual health issues. In a recent Brook survey three quarters of under-16s said they would be less likely to seek sexual health advice if they thought information could be passed on to others. Removing the right to confidentiality would have left more young people at risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Now young people can continue to seek advice, knowing that their confidentiality will be respected.
“A recent Brook poll also revealed overwhelming public support for confidential advice services for young people: in a poll commissioned by Brook 94% of people agreed that young people who don’t feel able to talk to their parents about sex and relationships should be able to get confidential information and advice elsewhere. This decision upholds their right to do so.”
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For further information contact Catherine Evans on 020 7284 6047 or e-mail catherinee@brookcentres.org.uk
Notes to editors
1. The judicial review of the Department of Health’s guidance for professionals on provision of advice and treatment to young people under 16 on contraception, sexual and reproductive health, initiated by Mrs Sue Axon, was heard in the High Court on 8-10 November 2005.
2. Brook launched its campaign, Wise Up! Your rights on sexual health in October 2005 in response to concerns that young people’s right to confidentiality is under threat. The campaign aims to uphold that right and to increase awareness of all young people’s rights on sexual health. More information about the campaign is available here.
3. In a survey published for the launch of the Wise Up! campaign 91% of respondents under the age of 16 said that health professionals should not be allowed to tell others about their visits. More information about that survey is available here.
4. The Wise Up! campaign has gained the support of a range of influential organisations representing health professionals and young people, including the General Medical Council, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Nursing, the UK Youth Parliament, the National Youth Agency, Action on Rights for Children, Childline ,the fpa, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care.
5. An opinion poll carried out by GfK NOP on Brook’s behalf revealed that:
• 94% of people agreed that young people who don’t feel able to talk to their parents about sex and relationships should be able to get confidential information and advice elsewhere
• 70% disagreed with the idea that making it possible for young people to get confidential sexual health advice and services leads them to start having sex earlier
GfK NOP Consumer carried out the survey of 988 adults aged 16 and above between 16 and 18 December 2005. The sample was designed and the data weighted to be representative of all adults in telephone owning households in the UK. Interviews were carried out by telephone using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing
6. Brook is the country’s leading provider of free, confidential sexual health advice and contraception to young people under 25. The charity has 40 years’ experience of providing impartial and confidential sexual health advice and services to young people through a national network of 17 centres across the UK. Each year Brook provides more than 100,000 young people with professional advice from specially trained doctors, nurses, counsellors and outreach and information workers.
7. Young people can contact Brook free and in confidence on 0800 0185 023 or by online enquiry via Ask Brook at www.brook.org.uk
