Most young people access health services through a general practioner (G.P.).

G.P’s have a special role to play in supporting young people’s access and reassuring them about confidentiality. Confidentiality is a key concern for young people when visiting the doctor.

A new Australian resource is available to support general practitioner in their work with youth: GP resource kit

Youth friendly doctors:

The following points were developed by young people in Taranaki for seeing how youth friendly doctors are:

Have they made an effort to make their surgery youth friendly?
What sort of magazines or games do they have, is there a radio, do they have information available about common health issues for youth, do the staff treat you with consideration and respect, does the doctor explain things in a way that you can understand?

Do they give you all the time you need to talk about what's on your mind?
A good GP will make sure that you have the opportunity to fully discuss your concerns and ask any questions that you need to. They shouldn't rush you or tell you that "your time's up". Be aware however that most GPs only allow about ten minutes for each consultation so if you think you will need longer make sure that you tell them when you ring for the appointment (Source).

NZAAHD prepared a resource to assess the youth-friendliness of doctors (NZZAHD need to supply this) that you might like to use.

How do doctors become youth friendly?

Youth-friendly approaches should be developed in the training of general practitioners and other specialists that will work young people. The NSW centre for the Advancement of Adolescent health has carried out extensive research on young people’s access to youth health.

They have produced a short document on creating youth friendly practice. The centre also produced GP Resource Kit: Enhancing the skills of General Practitioners in caring for young people (scroll to GP Kit). The kit has a focus on multicultural young people but is relevant to all young people. The key section for GP’s is Skills for youth friendly general practice.

If they are to meet the needs of today's youth, doctors need contemporary training in adolescent health issues and effective communication strategies.

Practice Staff Provide information and training on the developmental and health needs of adolescents so that practice staff and receptionists:

• Adopt a friendly and non-judgemental approach
• Understand that young people will sometimes be late for appointments often through no fault of their own (they may be relying on public transport, or an adult to transport them)
  
• Are sensitive to adolescents concerns about privacy and confidentiality, and take steps to safeguard their confidentiality
  
• Avoid stereotyping young people from culturally diverse backgrounds and are sensitive to any cultural issues or particular needs they may have
  
• Explain to young people why they have to wait, if there is a long waiting time as they may not understand the process of medical consultation
  
• Understand young peoples health rights and explain PHO enrolment procedures to all young people who present alone where possible
  
• Consult the young person on the best way to contact them for follow-up, test results, etc in order to protect their confidentiality
  
• Are familiar with community and youth resources in order to refer young people to appropriate support services Reception / Waiting Area Create a relaxed and welcoming environment for young people:
  
• Have adolescent-specific posters, pamphlets and other reading material available on subjects such as substance use; mental and sexual health (this provides a nonverbal message that you are happy to discuss these matters)
  
• Provide a range of youth-oriented magazines (e.g. fashion; surfing; music; car magazines)
  
• Display posters and resources aimed at specific cultural groups e.g. gay and lesbian; indigenous young people
  
• Display information about the practice's confidentiality policy • display waiting times. Practice Administration
  
• Develop a clinic policy on how to deal with young people, covering issues such as confidentiality, consent, crisis calls and billing procedures
  
• Adopt flexible administrative and appointment booking procedures for young people such as accepting 'drop-in' appointments
  
• Allow extra time for longer consultation, drop in, crisis situations or case conferencing
  
• Keep an individual file on adolescent patients (separate from family's file)
  
• Promote your practice to local schools and youth service networks, etc
  
• Have a simple information sheet for young people that details information about consultation times; making appointments; services that GPs can provide; etc. (Based on Creating a youth friendly practice)