Sharing Your Child’s Health Information

From 1st January, children aged 12 and over are considered competent to make decisions about sharing their own health information.

• Children under 12: information usually shared with a parent/guardian; doctors may check understanding if needed.
• Children 16 and over: fully competent to make decisions about their health.

Why this matters:

We want children’s voices heard while keeping them safe. Competence may change depending on age, health, or complexity of the decision.

Examples:

• Parent requests access? We may check the child understands before sharing.
• Participating in research? If the child understands the implications, their choice can be respected.

More info: NHS Guidance on Gillick Competence