11-16 year old access
From when you turn 11, doctors may talk to you about who has access to your medical information and whether you’re old enough to understand this and make decisions about it.
When you can understand it enough to make an informed decision, you’re said to “have capacity”.
You do not have to be old enough to look after your health and care on your own. You can still make an informed decision about whether you want your parents or guardians to manage your health and care for you online.
Most young people under 16 want their parents or guardians to manage their health and care, and online access helps them do this.
When you are 16
When you are 16, you are treated the same as an adult, and parent and guardian access stops. The GP surgery must get your consent before sharing your data. You can ask your GP surgery if you want your parents or guardians to have access. They do not have the right to have this in the same way they do when you’re a younger child.
You have the right to say what your parents or guardians can see or do for you. For example, you may want them to be able to get your medicines, but not to see your notes. Or you may not want them to have access at all.
You can talk to the doctor’s about what you want your parent or guardian to be able to do and see, when they ask for your consent.
You can have more than 1 person to help you, or choose the parent or guardian you are most comfortable with talking to about your health and wellbeing.
You can decide what each person who has access can do. For example, you might want 2 parents to be able to order your medicines, but only 1 to also see notes from your doctor’s appointments.
Stopping access
If you do not want your parent or guardian to have access, you can tell your doctor’s. They can switch it off, or change what services they have access to.
View more information on
Parents or Guardians accessing your doctors service: Information for under-16s on parents and guardians accessing your doctor’s services – NHS
Please fill out the patient consent to give online access to their medical records to another person form (word doc).