Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Caitlin

Caitlin has a rare long-term condition called Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy disease'. She has no movement below her neck and needs a tube to help her breathe more easily. She wishes that doctors and nurses didn't have to tick boxes and that patient's views could be taken into account more often.

  • Background

    Caitlin lives at home with her parents. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Amy

    Amy recently visited the GP for a number of things including IBS, overactive sweat glands, and a breast lump. She felt that GPs should look at everything' when making decisions and not just at how something looks. Giving reassurance to young people who live on their own and have little support was also important.

  • Background

    Amy is working on an apprenticeship, and lives on her own. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Winston

    Winston has seen the GP for various problems, all minor, including athlete's foot, an eye infection, and a misaligned (crooked) toe. He felt satisfied with the care he'd been given over the years but would like to see more information in waiting rooms on sports injuries. Having lived in several different places, he'd also like to be able to register with a new surgery more easily.

  • Background

    Winston is between jobs at the moment. He lives on his own. Ethnic background / nationality: Black African.

  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Hazzan

    Hazzan rarely visits the GP as he is usually healthy, though recalled seeing the doctor for chicken pox and vaccinations (injections) when he was younger. He felt that GP surgeries should have more resources for young people, including leaflets and posters on mental health, sexual health, healthy relationships, puberty, and stress.

  • Background

    Hazzan is at school and lives with his parents, sister and brother. Ethnic background / nationality: Black African.

  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Siobhan

    Siobhan went to see the GP because of problems with eating, low mood and self-harm, but found it hard to talk about her feelings to someone she hardly knew. She advised GPs not to just give young people leaflets and put them on tablets if they had depression but to offer other options too. She was having online CBT as well as taking medication, and had started feeling better.

  • Background

    Siobhan is doing her A Levels, and voluntary work in her free time. She lives with her parents. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Lucy

    Lucy was referred for counselling by her GP because of anxiety. She rarely sees a doctor now and hadn't registered with one since moving house two years ago. She advised young people with mental health issues not to hide these or be embarrassed by them.

  • Background

    Lucy is at college and lives at home with her parents. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Shane

    Shane was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. He was prescribed a high dose of antidepressant medication and overdosed (self-harmed) one night. He is no longer on medication and has weekly informal counselling with a GP he likes. He also takes part in events organised by a local charity.

  • Background

    Shane is at college. He lives with his mum and two younger sisters. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Isaac

    Isaac rarely sees the GP. He recalled feeling ignored by doctors when he was a child because they would talk mostly to the adult he went with. Most recently he went because of a mole on his arm. The GP was reassuring and told Isaac that it needed to be removed in hospital as soon as possible. The procedure was fast and painless.

  • Background

    Isaac is at college. He lives at home and helps cares for his mum. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Sophie

    When she was 13, Sophie started feeling very low, tired, and had little motivation for friends, study or the things she normally enjoyed. She had some counselling through school and then through a GP referral. She found group counselling more helpful than individual counselling, and feels that local services could be improved by having doctors who specialise in mental health.

  • Background

    Sophie is at school and works part-time in retail. She lives at home with her parents. Ethnic background / nationality: White British.

  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Kyle

    Over the last two years Kyle went to see the GP because of sports injuries. He feels that a good doctor should be professional and knowledgeable, and try to make patients feel comfortable.

  • Background

    Kyle is at school. He lives with his dad, grandmother, brother and sister. Ethnic background / nationality: Black Caribbean.

  • Sex/Gender Male