New sexual health service launches across North Yorkshire and York

From 1 July, York and North Yorkshire residents will be able to attend one stop shop clinics for all their sexual health and contraception needs as a new and improved service is launched.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been commissioned by City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council to deliver a new integrated sexual health service.  The service, which is being delivered under the well known and recognised brand, YorSexualHealth will provide many benefits to residents including improved access to services, all under one roof.

One advantage of the new service will be the introduction of ‘One stop shop’ clinics providing contraception, STI tests and treatments for all ages. This means that in most cases people will be 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, Northallerton, Selby, Scarborough and Harrogate will improve access to services alongside additional community clinics located in GP surgeries and higher education facilities.

A new central booking line 01904 721111 will also enable all sexual health and contraception appointments to be made via one single number.

Patrick Crowley, Chief Executive at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “The launch of the new YorSexualHealth service is great news for the people of York and is the culmination of months of hard work by everyone involved.

“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.”

Tina Ramsey, Clinical Lead for YorSexualHealth, continued: “As part of the development of our new service we conducted focus groups with local residents to get their opinions about where they wanted services in York to be located. We have looked closely at the location of our clinics in order to improve accessibility and as a result of feedback will be delivering services from GP surgeries (Wenlock Terrace Surgery and Front Street Surgery Acomb), York College, York University as well as a YorSexualHealth Centre at Monkgate Centre.  

“We have also made improvements 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 people and we will be continuing to refine the service over the coming months. We are encouraging local people to get in touch to let us know what they think and where they think future services should be located so please drop us a line at yorsexualhealth@york.nhs.uk.”

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

To view the new clinic timetable (effective from Monday 6 July) click here.

30 June 2015