'Respect' poster wins GP contest

Danielle was the Welsh regional winner of the UK-wide competition

A Flintshire teenager has beaten off competition from across Wales with a winning poster showing how young people want to be treated by their doctors.

The General Medical Council (GMC) ran the competition to help find out what young people think of their GPs.

Danielle Baines, 14, from Connahs Quay High School, was voted best of 87 entries, and also won an iPod.

Natalie Drury, head of Welsh affairs at the GMC, said her poster showed young people were individuals.

The competition was part of a consultation before new guidance for doctors is issued in September.

It will state doctors must always act in the best interests of children and young people, and take their views into account.

Young people are individuals with independent voices that need to be listened to and have rights that should be respected Natalie Drury, GMC

Danielle, who was the Welsh regional winner of the UK-wide competition, said: "I'm very excited about winning the competition and the iPod.

"Its great that young people have been asked how they want to be treated by their doctors.

"I hope my poster shows that it's important that doctors respect and listen to young people's views."

Ms Drury said under 18s, who make up around a fifth of the Welsh population, have different needs and concerns to adults.

She said the guidance was the first time the GMC had set standards for doctors specifically about children and young people.

Ms Drury said Danielle's design was "superb".

"It chimes with what we've been hearing from the young people who've let us know what they want from their doctor - that young people are individuals with independent voices that need to be listened to and have rights that should be respected," she added.