Poster on their medical rights designed by young people

A poster informing young people of their rights when visiting a doctor has been launched today.

A poster informing young people of their rights when visiting a doctor has been launched today. The poster was designed by a group of young people aged between 13 and 15 years, as part of a project commissioned by the General Medical Council (GMC) and run by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB).

The young people from across the UK produced the final design with the help of a professional designer after reviewing key messages from the GMC’s 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors. That guidance sets out doctors’ responsibilities to act always in the best interests of children and young people, to listen to them and to involve them in decisions that affect them.

John Jenkins, Chairman of the GMC Standards and Ethics Committee that produced the 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors, said: ‘We have worked with partners across the UK to help spread the message that young people are individuals with rights that should be respected. A poster designed by young people for young people should help explain what they can expect from their doctors and how they can help them to provide care in a way that is relevant to them.’

Liz Zachary, Project Development Officer, NCB, said: ‘We want young people to know that they have the right to access their medical records and to see a doctor on their own if they want to. The young people’s rights poster will be displayed in youth clubs, medical clinics, schools and libraries across the United Kingdom, which will help to improve the working relationship between doctors and young people, and give children and young people the reassurance that their medical problems will not be dismissed by doctors.’

Copies of the poster are available free of charge from Liz Zachary at NCB lzachary@ncb.org.uk or downloadable from www.gmc-uk.org/children