Sexual health: fringe meeting debates confidentiality

The session, which was organised by sexual health charity Brook, debated whether confidentiality in young people’s sexual health services was under attack.

Simon Blake, chief executive of Brook, said that confidentially was crucial for young people.

"Local safeguarding children protocols must acknowledge that there may be circumstances when it is not necessary to report sexual activity between young people to social services and allow professionals to assess what is in the best interests of the young people they are working with", he said.

Rob Williams, chief executive of children’s commissioner’s office 11 Million, said: "Professionals must always work in the best interests of the child, even in circumstances where this may prove difficult."

Katrina Mather, a representative from the UK Youth Parliament, asserted that young people needed to be able to trust services otherwise they would not use them. She added that the effect on young people of mistrust in services would be "disastrous".
 
Research carried out by Brook in 2005 found that 62 per cent of young people think that confidentiality is the most important factor when it comes to using sexual health services.