What are Gillick competence consents and why are important?

Children typically aren't considered to have automatic consent until they reach 16 or 17 (depending on the location). However, there's no strict age limit for being Gillick competent.

• Maturity and Understanding: The core concept is that the child understands the immunisation process - what it is, the potential risks and benefits, and the alternatives. They must be able to weigh this information and decide based on their understanding.

• Assessment: A healthcare professional will assess a child's Gillick competence by talking to them about the immunisation and observing their understanding of the information provided.

Why Gillick consents are important:

• Autonomy: It respects a child's developing autonomy and right to participate in decisions about their health.

• Empowerment: Understanding the immunisation process and having a say in the decision can empower children and make them more likely to accept the vaccine.

• Open Communication: The assessment process can open up communication between healthcare professionals, children, and their parents.

Important notes for healthcare professionals:

• Ideally, healthcare professionals will involve parents in the discussion, even if a child is deemed Gillick competent.

• If a Gillick competent child consents to a vaccine and the parents refuse, please refer to your management team for further instruction.

• If a healthcare professional doesn't believe a child is Gillick competent, they should seek consent from someone with parental responsibility.