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H

Health care

When you start being looked after by Plymouth City Council:

• your social worker will check that you are registered with a doctor and a dentist.
• if you have any special medical, health, or dietary needs your social worker and foster carer must make sure these are met and any treatment needed will be arranged.
• if you need to visit the doctor often or you need regular hospital treatment ask your carer to go with you.
• if you are over 16 you can decide to go to the doctor, dentist or hospital on your own.
• your social worker and/or foster carer should also make sure that you have your eyes checked yearly by an optician.
• your carer should make sure that you get a balanced diet to ensure good health.
• all young people who are looked after should have an annual medical with their GP, this is just like a cars MOT and it is nothing to worry about. If you don’t want a medical talk to your social worker about this.
• all young people should have a health plan, which looks at how we will make sure you are a fit and healthy young person.

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Health education

This is an important part of your health care.  It means getting access to information and learning about:

• diets
• nutritional value of food
• alcohol
• drugs
• sex education
• how your body works

You should learn something about all the above at school, but if you want to know more speak to your foster carer or social worker.

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Health files

If you are 16 years old or over:

• you have the right from 1 November 1991 to see what has been written about you from that date in your health records.
• health records are those kept by doctors, dentists, nurses, opticians, child psychologists and psychotherapists.

If you are under 16 years old, you may be allowed to see your file if the Health Authority thinks that you will understand what is written there when you see it.

At any age you have a right to see health information held on computer so long as the Health Authority think you understand what it all means.

If you want to see your health file you can talk to your doctor or ask your carer or social worker to help you talk to her or him.

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HIV positive and AIDS

HIV is the name that is given to the virus that can lead to AIDS.

AIDS is:

• the condition that means your body is unable to fight diseases or illnesses that it gets.
• a disease with no current cure and many people die from AIDS.

Some people have the HIV virus and never get ill but they can pass it on to others. You can get the virus from someone who already has it by having sex without a condom, sharing needles to inject drugs or receiving infected blood. You cannot catch the virus by hugging, kissing and sharing food.

If you know someone who has HIV or AIDS you should treat them in the same way you treat everyone else. A person with HIV/AIDS should be able to lead an active life like everybody else. If a person does get very ill then they will want to know that they have friends around who are willing to help.

If you have HIV or AIDS, or think you might have the virus and want to talk to someone in private, or if you just want to find out more information, you should contact one of the other organisations listed in the Contacts page of this section.

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Holidays

Most children looked after by the Council will go on holiday once a year. This may sometimes depend though on what time of year you start to be looked after and how long you are looked after. For example, if you start to be looked after in October or November and then return home in January or February you might not go on holiday during this time.

When holidays are being arranged:

• you might be able to go on holiday with your Foster Carer or on a holiday arranged by your Children’s Home or even your school.
• sometimes your parents, a friend or relative will ask to take you on holiday. If you are asked to go on a holiday by a parent, friend, or relative you should talk about this with your carer and your social worker.
• and you are on a Care Order the Director of Social Services must give their permission. Your social worker will ask for permission for you. The decision on whether to give permission will be based on what is in your best interest, and your wishes and feelings will be listened to.

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