WHEN YOU TURN 16
Information for young persons turning 16 years old
Background
This information has been prepared with the help of the Patients Participation Group (PPG) at Framfield House Surgery with input from local young people.
If you are going away from home to university or further education
Most universities provide a student health service linked to local surgeries that gives you the access to a similar range of services to those you can find at Framfield House.
If your university or other educational institution doesn’t have a student health service, you are encouraged to register with a local GP practice. You can find your nearest GP surgeries at NHS uk Service Search
For information regarding the vaccinations you should have prior to going to university, go to the NHS.uk Getting Medical Care as a Student page or contact the practice.
If you move to a new location
If you're moving it’s a good idea to register with a GP surgery near your new location. If there are several, you can find the contact details on the NHS uk Service Search page. When you register you will be asked to fill in a registration form and may be asked for proofs of identity such as your passport or proof of address.
To find a local dentist, go to NHS.uk Search Dentists page. Most dental practices do not accept NHS patients but only private ones. You can ask friends, acquaintances, and reliable adults for recommendations.
If you are unwell but it is not an emergency, call 111 for free advice 24/7.
There are times when you may feel more comfortable talking to particular GP practice staff. You can always request an appointment with your preferred clinician.
If you can suggest further subjects or links that would make this information more complete and useful please contact us at sneeicb-ies.framfieldhouse@nhs.net or 01394 615500.
Taking full advantage of the National Health Service
You have a legal right to choose a local GP practice that best suits your needs. Try comparing GP practices according to facilities, services, access and performance before you decide. Ask friends, relatives and others you trust for their thoughts and recommendations.
The GP practice must accept you unless there are reasonable grounds to refuse you. These must not relate to race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or a medical condition. It must also give you in writing the reasons for any negative decision.
A GP practice may decline to register you if:
- it has no capacity to take on new patients;
- it is not accepting patients that do not live in its practice area;
- in your own circumstances, they feel that it may be better to find a practice that is closer to where you live.
GP practices in England are free to register new patients who live outside their practice boundary area. It is for a practice to decide whether and when to do so.
For more information, read How to register with a GP practice
SystmOnline services
SystmOnline services is a facility provided by the practice clinical record system. Your parents or guardians had access to your online record, but as of your 16th birthday that ceases. You will need to come in and ask to set up your own account. Once you have access you will be able to book or cancel appointments with us, order repeat prescriptions, and to view your clinical records held about you by the surgery. You can check test results, review your medications, and check your immunisations.
To register, just come in to the surgery with your proofs of identity. The receptionist will give you a form to fill in and sign. You will then be given details of your new Username and Password. You can then log in and familiarise yourself with the website. You will be prompted to change the password you are issued to something more memorable. As with many other websites, it is smart to keep that information as a secret.
Confidentiality
All information in your medical record is safe and protected including anything you tell us, whatever is written down, and details of any diagnosis and treatment. You can request to see your health records at any time just ask the practice manager at the surgery.
If you are uneasy about visiting the surgery, please let the receptionist know. We can arrange for you to have an early or late appointment or to avoid having to sit in the waiting room.
For information about whether your confidential patient information can be anonymised for use for research and planning, you can telephone 0300 303 5678 or go online to the NHS uk Your NHS Data Matters page.
Directory
General health information
The NHS web site goes into every health aspect of health care in up-to-date detail from A to Z. Some topics have video information. Go to the NHS uk website.
BBC.co.uk/actionline - information and useful links to a range of subjects.
Website link: BBC Action Line
Be a blood donor from age 17 onwards.See the Blood website for details.
Healthy lifestyle services - Suffolk County Council has a website that gives much information on local health services.See the One Life Suffolk website for details.
Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group (IESCCG) is the main NHS entity from which funding and supervision of Framfield House flow. Go to the Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG Patient Information Leaflets website for further details
The ‘Source’ – provides information, advice and sources of support on everyday issues that impact youngsters. The website includes a modernized CV builder, ‘Ask the Expert’ and ‘find help’ sections including a ‘Emotional Wellbeing Directory’
Patient.info
Patient is a website that is easy to use and offers a very wide range of information on just about everything you want to know about health and health care.
Mental health
Alcohol abuse and addiction information is well covered by the NHS uk Alcohol Support website.
Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families has been providing psychological services for over 60 years. Visit the Anna Freud website for more information
T: 020 7794 2313. E: info@annafreud.org
Bullying or trolling and being trolled - The Anna Freud Centre’s onmymind website is useful. Visit the Anna Freud On My Mind website.
Bullying UK is a national charity with good advice for young people. T: 0808 8002222 W: bullying.co.uk
ChildHealth - Texting Service: confidential help about a range of issues, or make an appointment with a school nurse by sending a text message to 07507 333356.
Children and young people’s emotional wellbeing - information, advice and support are available at emotional well-being – this affects about 1 in 10 young people – depression, anxiety and conduct disorder you can find information on the Suffolk Children and Young Peoples Emotional Well Being Hub page
T: 0345 600 2090 (Mon-Fri 8.00am to 7.30pm).
Childline - a well-established charity for young people under age 19, offering useful and sensitive advice. Call them on . T: 0800 1111 Childline
County Lines - The Children’s Society website has a good section on the criminal exploitation of young people: Childrens Society
Drugs - One You is a clever and useful NHS web site about health and wellness.
Drugs - honest information about drugs: Talk to Frank - help and advice on illegal substances. Talk to Frank T: 0300 1236600
Exam pressure advice can be found on gov.uk Coping with Exam Pressure a Guide for Students
Footsteps - walking with you is a professional confidential service in Woodbridge offering face to face counseling for young people aged 11 – 25. More information is available on their helpful web site at Footsteps or call on 07955 898 151
Healthy Suffolk - the home of public health in Suffolk offers lots of useful information. Healthy Suffolk website.
Just 42: Woodbridge based youth and children’s work charity, offers mentoring support for young people aged between 11 and 19 years of age. For more details go to Just42 or call 01394 380992
Kooth – your on-line mental well-being community. Free, safe and anonymous support Kooth
Mind - the mental health charity has an excellent website: Mind
Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) Good information on NHS uk website.
OCDUK is a national charity offering information and advice: OCD uk org website.
Pornography – If you are concerned about the impact of watching porn there is further information at Thinkuknow
If you are concerned about revenge porn or the sharing of sexual images go to Safety Centre
Relationships - The Source is a Suffolk-focused service. The Source website.
See also Family Relationships below.
Samaritans - Providing support to anyone in emotional distress. Call free 24/7. On 116 123 Samaritans website.
Self-esteem - the opinion we have of ourselves. You can find good information at NHS uk Raising Low Self Esteem website.
Self-harm - see your doctor at Framfield House for a confidential discussion. Two helpful websites are Patient.info Self Harm, and Mind.
Sexting and selfies - if you need advice about sending or receiving images including nudes Face Up 2 It
Suicide prevention - Papyrus is a national charity providing sensitive and helpful services for young people with suicidal thoughts T: 0800 068 4141 Papyrus UK website.
Young people’s mental health - readable information about all aspects, with a good website: Young Minds. T: 0800 8025544
Young people’s health project: 4YP - provides and co-ordinates services for young people in Suffolk aged 12-25. T: 01473 252607 4YP website.
Diet, weight, fitness, sleep, and well-being
Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculate your own BMI and find other information at
BMI score has some limitations because it measures whether a person is carrying too much weight but not too much fat. For example, people who are very muscular, like professional sportspeople, can have a high BMI without much fat.
But for most people, BMI is a useful indication of whether they're a healthy weight.
Another measure of excess fat is waist to height ratio, which can be used as an additional measure in adults who have a BMI under 35.
To calculate your waist to height ratio, measure around your waist just above your belly button, and divide it by your height, measured in the same units (for example, centimetres or inches).
A waist to height ratio of 0.5 or higher means you may have increased health risks
Eating Disorders - BEAT provides a wide range of help on its website BEAT provides a wide range of help on its website at beateatingdisorders.org.uk You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from the eating disorders charity Beat by calling their youth helpline on 0808 801 0711. Additional information is also available from the NHS website.
Emotional well-being - confidential information, advice and support is on Suffolkinfolink’s website: Infolink Suffolk (gov.uk)
Also, a useful Suffolk-focused NHS website for young people feeling emotionally distressed. Well Being
Physiotherapy - If you have registered to manage your own care, you can self-refer to Allied Health Professionals Suffolk. They provide NHS physiotherapy services for patients at Framfield House. T: 03330 433 966 AHP Suffolk.co.uk
Sleep problems - There is a wide range of information about sleep problems on the NHS uk website.
Smoking – One Life Suffolk is a website that furnishes specific help and encouragement for young people who wish to stop smoking.
Weight management - The NHS website provides multiple forms of help and information at: NHS uk
Find advice and support for weight management at One Life Suffolk.
Sexual and reproductive health
Local services and general information
Contraception - The NHS has a full guide on its website:
Contraception services at GP surgeries, including Framfield House, are free and confidential.
Gay Identity - Switchboard is a long-established service for LGBTQ+ people. It provides help and support through its website: LGBT Switch Board
Text messaging available. You can text to 0300 330 0630
It Gets Better is a charity that enables LGBTQ+ young to know their worthiness and power as individuals. Visit the It Gets Better website.
Just like Us is another charity empowering LGBTQ+ people from the classroom into their careers. Visit Just like Us.
Outreach Youth is a Suffolk group dealing with a range of LGBTQ+ issues and gender identities. W: outreachyouth.org.uk
The LGBT Foundation provides a help line and a website at LGBT Foundation
The helpline is on 03453 30 30 30.
Transgender information can be found at Gender Trust. Gender Trust
HIV/Aids - the Terrence Higgins Trust provides service and advice nationwide. Terrence Higgins Trust.
Integrated Contraception and Sexual Health (iCASH) is a local NHS service working with the Terence Higgins Trust, offering NHS self-test kit and advice and more. Visit the I Cash website.
The National Aids Trust provides support and advocacy about HIV and Aids through its website: The National Aids Trust
Brook - their web site is full of information and advice on a wide range of topics and believes in a society where young people are free to be themselves. For pregnancy see Brook
Rape and Sexual Violence
Suffolk Rape Crisis is a service for girls and women experiencing or fearing rape and sexual assault. Visit the Suffolk Rape Crisis website.
Preventative health
Alcohol NHS.uk Alcohol Support
Diabetes - learn to live well with diabetes My Diabetes
Smoking NHS.uk 10 self help tips to stop smoking One Life Suffolk
Social media concerns See ‘Bullying’ section above.
Gambling- This is where you can find out more about gambling – what it is, how it works, the risks, and what to do if you are worried about your own gambling or the gambling of someone close to youBig Deal
Family relationships
Confidentiality If you are anxious to keep certain matters private, see nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters, or come in to Framfield House to speak with your doctor. There is advice about data protection available at T: 0300 303 5678.
Family or domestic violence - Child Line T: 0800 1111.
Sexual abuse support – when someone harms, injures or hurts you physically on purpose. Confidential, specialist support for young people (+13) in Suffolk who are or have experienced any form of sexual abuse or sexual violence - operated by Survivors Survivors
Young carers - support for young people who are formal or informal carers for ill or disabled family members is available at Suffolk Family Carers. or Telephone 01473 835430.