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Authority for a carer to consent to a child’s medical treatment (Scotland)
Scotland · in English · for parents
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For a parent in Scotland leaving a child with grandparents, a friend, a childminder or another carer: a signed letter arranging for the carer to consent to the child’s medical treatment while the child is with them, and to speak to doctors and dentists. A parent may not give up parental responsibilities and rights but may arrange for another person to exercise them on their behalf (Children (Scotland) Act 1995, s 3(5)). You choose emergency treatment only, or routine care too, and the dates. The carer keeps the letter.
- Made for use in Scotland
- Last updated October 29, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- You are leaving your child with the grandparents in Scotland while you work away.
- A childminder is looking after your child for a week and may need to take them to the doctor.
- You are going abroad and want the friend caring for your child to be able to talk to doctors.
- You want to authorise someone in writing to consent to your child’s treatment.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Parent
- Parent's address
- Town or city
- Parent's postcode
- Phone
- Date
- Carer (the person looking after the child)
- Child's name
- Child's date of birth
- Doctor
- Your relationship to the child (e.g. mother, father, guardian)
- Carer's address, with postcode
- Carer's relationship to the child (e.g. grandparent, childminder)
- Authority starts on
- Valid until
- What the carer may consent to
Common questions
- Can a carer in Scotland consent to a child’s treatment without a letter from the parent?
- Sometimes. A person aged 16 or over who has care or control of a child may do what is reasonable to safeguard the child’s health, including consenting to treatment the child cannot consent to, unless they know a parent would refuse (Children (Scotland) Act 1995, s 5). That does not apply to someone caring for a child at school. This letter removes doubt and shows the doctor what you arranged. A school trip uses the school’s own form.
- At what age can a child in Scotland consent to their own medical treatment?
- At 16 a young person has full legal capacity and consents as an adult does (Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991, s 1). A child under 16 can consent to a procedure or treatment where the doctor attending them thinks they understand its nature and possible consequences (s 2(4)). The carer’s authority still helps for a younger child, or when the child cannot decide.
- Where should I note my child’s allergies, medicines and CHI number?
- On a separate sheet you hand the carer with the letter: allergies, conditions and medicines, the GP practice and the child’s CHI number — NHS Scotland’s patient number — if you know it. The authority itself then carries no health details, and you can update the sheet without signing a new letter. The carer keeps both with the child’s belongings and takes them to any appointment or to hospital.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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