It’s Sexual Health Week: Get checked out at new one-stop-shop clinics

This week marks Sexual Health Week, and with the focus of the week being happiness and wellbeing, it’s the perfect opportunity to get a sexual health MOT at one of the new one-stop-shop sexual health and contraception clinics now available accross North Yorkshire and York.   

The new clinics are already proving popular with residents who can now have all their sexual health and contraceptive needs met in one place.    

From 1 July, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was commissioned by City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council to deliver a new integrated sexual health service across York and North Yorkshire.  

The service, which is being delivered under the well known and recognised brand, YorSexualHealth is already providing many benefits to residents including improved access to services, all under one roof.

One advantage of the new service is the introduction of ‘One-stop-shop’ clinics providing contraception, STI tests and treatments for all ages. This means that in most cases people are able to have all their sexual health needs met by one practitioner without the need for onward referral.

The introduction of YorSexualHealth Centres in York, Selby, Northallerton, Scarborough, Selby and Harrogate is already improving access to services alongside additional community clinics located in GP surgeries, Universities and Colleges.

A new central booking line 01904 721111 also means that all sexual health and contraception appointments can now be made via one single number.

Tina Ramsey, Clinical Services Manager for YorSexualHealth, said: “The launch of the new YorSexualHealth service is great news for local residents and sexual health week provides the perfect opportunity for people to come and get checked out at one of our new services.  

“The theme of this year’s Sexual Health Week organised by the FPA explores how a happy, healthy sex life can play a key role in our overall health and wellbeing. Yet for many people, sexual pleasure remains a source of embarrassment or shame.

“Our clinics are accessible and convenient and our staff are friendly and approachable.  You can speak to them confidentiality – there is really nothing to feel embarrassed about.   

“We have been working in partnership with GPs to maximise access and choice for people, North Yorkshire AIDS Action to provide Services for People Living with HIV as well as Yorkshire MESMAC to provide Community Outreach Services as part of the new service.

“Improvements have been made to the functionality of our website and will be offering “virtual” clinics which will include telephone consultations and postal treatments.

“Our aim has been to develop a service which meets the needs of local residents and we will be continuing to refine the service over the coming months.

“We would encourage people to use Sexual Health Week as an opportunity to come and take a look at our new services.”

For more information about accessing sexual health and contraception services visit www.yorsexualhealth.org.uk

17 September 2015