Before we can speak to you about someone else’s care, we may need their consent.
Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, when a young person turns sixteen they are presumed to have “capacity” unless there is clear evidence that this is not the case.
Your mental capacity means your ability to understand information and make decisions about your life. It can also mean the ability to communicate decisions about your life. Your capacity to make a decision can vary depending on the time that the decision needs to be made and the type of decision you need to make.
This means that legally, once you are sixteen years old, we cannot share information with anyone else, nor can anyone else make any decisions regarding your healthcare without your consent, unless there is clear evidence on your patient record to suggest that you lack capacity.
As a patient, you can give your consent for someone else to speak to us and take decisions on your behalf by contacting us.
You can do this temporarily, for example, if you are on a phone call and would like someone who is with you to listen and participate in the conversation. We will ask for your consent before continuing the discussion with the other person present.
If permanent access is wanted then a written form can be collected from the practice. This gives permission for another person to have access to your medical record, to speak to us on your behalf, and to see details of appointments.
You can revoke your consent for someone else to have access to your medical record at any time, provided there is no evidence to suggest that you do not have the capacity to make this decision. Please contact the practice to learn how to do so.
