At least nine schools in Southampton have participated in a new government scheme which permits girls as young as 13 to receive contraceptive implants at school without the knowledge or consent of their parents.
The scheme, run by NHS Solent, has been introduced as part of a wider strategy to attempt to reduce Britain’s rising teenage pregnancy rates, and involves fitting a 4cm device under the upper arm which releases hormones to stop pregnancies.
It is reported that at least 1700 girls aged 13-14 had received the implants last year.
Parental Approval
However, some parents are outraged after discovering that their children had undergone the procedure without their knowledge, as teachers are prohibited from obtaining parental approval due to rules on “patient confidentiality”.
One parent, who was initially unaware that her 13 year daughter had received the implant, said:
"This is a step too far. To perform a minor surgical procedure on school grounds without parents knowing is morally wrong.
“I have spoken to a lot of parents at the school and they were horrified to find out this was happening. As parents we want to protect our children and I feel that has been taken away from me."
Family Education Trust
The scheme has also been heavily criticised by campaigners who believe that it will encourage more underage sex and promiscuity amongst young people.
Norman Wells, director of the Family Education Trust, said: "Schemes like these inevitably lead to boys putting pressure on girls to have sex.
"They can now tell their girlfriends: 'You can get the school clinic to give you an implant, so you don't have to worry about getting pregnant.'
"They'll tell them they don't have to face the embarrassment of going to see their doctor, and it's all confidential so their mum doesn't need to know a thing.
"Parents send their children to school to receive a good education, not to be undermined by health workers who give their children contraceptives behind their backs.
"Health authorities should be looking for ways of discouraging young people from engaging in sexual activity in the first place.
"The last thing they should be doing is fuelling the flames of promiscuity and the sexual health crisis with schemes that treat parents, the law and basic moral principles with contempt."
Comment
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said:
“Children belong to their parents, not the State. Parents have the right to raise their children in line with their religious and moral values, and this move violates that principle.
“Britain currently has the second highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe and soaring rates of sexually transmitted diseases.
“Attempts by the government to reduce teenage pregnancy rates by more sex education and more contraception have failed drastically. This new scheme will place children’s health at risk by encouraging promiscuity with all of the resultant risks.
“Children need to be taught about the benefits of abstinence until marriage.”
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