New Sexual Health Clinic
Friday 1 August 2008
- First women-only under 20s Health Clinic in Haringey set to launch on Sexual Health Week (4 - 10 August)
During Sexual Health Week Haringey TPCT will formally launch its new sexual health clinic at Lordship Lane Primary Care Health Centre for women aged 20 and under in response to a nationwide increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and high teenage pregnancy rates especially in younger people.
The new clinic 4YP+ will be formally launched on Thursday 7 August from 3.30pm till 6.30pm. The clinic will test and treat young women for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and will offer contraception services.It will also offer information and advice on STIs, contraception and managing relationships. All young women are welcome and no appointment is necessary.
The tests offered at the new clinic will include
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea
- syphilis
- hepatitis B, and
- HIV
Pregnancy tests will be available along with a range of contraception including condoms, the pill and long acting reversible contraception such as the coil (IUD) and Implanon.Emergency contraception will also be available.
The TPCT will also use this week as a platform to promote the range of sexual health services available for young people across the borough:
- 4YP (For Young People) will invite young people to get tested for chlamydia, pick up condoms and get advice about sexual risk. 4YP is a mobile sexual health and relationship education service working to reach young people who might otherwise have unprotected sex. From the autumn this service will also include clinical services. The bus travels around the borough and during sexual health the bus will be stationed on:
- Monday, 4 August 3pm – 4.30pm at Northumberland Park, N17.
- Tuesday, 5 August 3pm – 5pm outside Wood Green Library, N22 and 7pm – 9pm at Paignton youth centre/ Triangle children’s centre N15
- Thursday, 7 August, 2pm – 8pm outside Lordship Lane, N17.
- Friday, 8 August, 3pm – 5pm outside Wood Green Library, N22.
- 4YP clinic in St Ann’s Sexual Health Centre – a walk-in (no appointment necessary) service for young people on Tuesdays from 2pm – 4.30pm offering sexual health and contraceptive services to under 19’s.
- Information about the Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme starting in September 2008 which intends to routinely immunise 12 – 13 year old girls to prevent them from developing cervical cancer later in life.
Head of Sexual Health, Contraception and Reproductive Services at Haringey Teaching PCT, Claire O’Connor said:
Poor sexual health, sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancy continue to be a significant issue in Haringey and young people are disproportionately affected. This is why we developed the clinic (4YP+) within Lordship Lane Primary Care Health Centre to offer further choice to young people to access a range of free, confidential sexual health services and to enable young women to make informed choices about their own sexual health and contraceptive issues.
This is also why sexual health week is a great way to get people tested for chlamydia because if it’s diagnosed early it is easily treated with antibiotics. If not treated the infection can spread to other parts of the body and causes serious health problems including:
- infertility
- ectopic pregnancies
- miscarriages
- and swollen painful testicles.
During the autumn 2008 the service at Lordship Lane will be further developed offering a range of contraceptive and sexual health services to all age groups with dedicated sessions for young people and women.
Every year the Family Planning Association (FPA) holds a sexual health week to inform health professionals, the public and the media about a key topic in sexual health. This year the FPA’s sexual health week 4 -10 August will campaign for the rights of people with learning disabilities to have sex and relationships.
