6 ways to teen-proof your practice

Teenagers have an inherent fear of officialdom – cast your mind back to your youth and, no matter how confident you appeared to be, deep down you perhaps felt a little self conscious when approaching a reception desk with a sea of faces watching and listening. It felt a little like stage fright, didn't it?

Remember, it may be the first time a teenage patient has walked through your practice doors or into your surgery without a parent – that discussion of personal matters looming and a close up inspection of their mouth with possible questions about their oral hygiene and dietary habits to follow. A survey by the UK Youth Parliament found that more than one third of teenagers said they would not consult their GP about issues such as sexual health, adolescent concerns, mental health, and weight. Evidence suggests young people's opinions of health services are less than positive, too. Of late, there has been a dramatic increase in young patients admitted to hospital for conditions best managed in the primary sector – tooth decay among them. This is not only a financial burden on the system, but it's an unhealthy and unnecessary route to care for patients as well.