Drayton & St Faiths Medical Practice

We hope that this page will help you to find useful information about health issues which affect young people.

Remember, if you are worried about your health talking about your feelings and worries with others can help, so its best to talk to a parent or another responsible adult who knows their stuff if you can.

Sometimes it's difficult to talk to people you know. There are help-lines that you can telephone for advice and support - we have given a couple of numbers below.

If you are a patient at Drayton or St Faiths you can make an appointment in your own right, and see a nurse or doctor on your own.

Confidentiality

The Doctors and Nurses at the Surgery are here to listen to you without telling anyone about the issues you raise.

Every appointment with the staff here is confidential, which means secret.

This applies even if you are aged under 16

We will not tell anyone else unless we are concerend for your safety or the safety of others. This is very unusual and we'll always discuss this with you first.

Current topic: Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the fastest growing sexually transmitted infection in the UK - as many as one in twelve sexually active young people aged 15 - 24 are thought to already carry the infection. It is a bacterial infection that is easily passed on through having unprotected sexual contact with someone who already has the infection.

You can get chlamydia through having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who already has the infection.

You don't have to have full sex to get chlamydia.

If left untreated chlamydia can cause serious health problems, including infertility, in both men and women.

The good news is that a simple, readily available test can tell whether you have the infection, and treatment is simple and effective.

Testing kits are available at both the Drayton and St Faiths Surgery and also from the Drayton Pharmacy (located next to the Drayton Surgery).

For more information about chlamydia and how you can get a test-kit, go to http://www.areyougettingit.com

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT:

Diabetes UK is an organisation that supports people with diabetes. They have a really good section on their web-site for young people, at

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health. If you are a smoker and want to give up, or you want to learn more to help a friend or relative to quit smoking try:

Sometimes it can be difficult to do normal day-to-day things, or relationships seem to go wrong all the time. "Teens first for health" have a section on their website that gives more information about mental health issues for young people:

This can be a tricky subject! We worry about how being very overweight can be bad for young people's health, and we worry about young people losing too much weight! This on-line leaflet is a bit technical, but it gives good information about how to stay a healthy weight:

If you are worried that you or someone you know may have an "eating disorder" you can get more information and details of where help is available at:

Lots of different young people have lots of different disabilities! For information about sources of information and help a good place to start is:

You will find links to information and community pages and a text alert service.

The Teenage Cancer Trust's web-site has lots of information, forums and support for young people diagnosed with cancer and their families:

If you want more information about drugs and alcohol, or you need help or advice, the "Frank" website is really good:

For accurate factual information about sex and sexual health, and links to other web sites try:

The HPV vaccine is a series of 3 injections designed to help protect young women against some forms of cervical cancer when they get older.

The vaccine will be offered to 12-13 year old girls in Year 8 at school and 17 & 18 year old girls in Year 13 at school or college.

Those aged between 13 and 17 that don't receive the vaccine this year will be offered the vaccine in the next two years at school or college by a school nurse.

A young carer is a young person who cares for, or helps to care for, someone who has a long-term illness or disability. This might be a parent or grandparent, a brother or sister, or another family member. Sometimes the people a young carer cares for have a physical illness or disability, but sometimes they have mental health problems or have problems with drugs or alcohol. There are lots and lots of young carers out there, but many young people don't realise that there are others in the same position. Providing care for someone you love can be hard, but there is help out there!

The Norfolk Connexions web-site has a good section on young people and health issues at:

"Active Norfolk" is a web site that provides lots of information about sport and physical activity in Norfolk. They have a special section called "Active Youth":

As well as its freephone helpline (see below) Childline's web-site is packed with information and advice:

Youth Health Talk is an interactive website for young people. It provides information about many conditions, and stories from young people about their experiences of diagnosis and treatment. There are also forums where you can share stories and ask questions, and many other resources. Check it out at http://www.youthhealthtalk.org/