The Sexual Health Team in Gateshead are currently involved in two new initiatives for their service users. Working with partners, they have launched a free condom scheme for young people which will be piloted in a wide range of locations in Gateshead from 1 September. They are also getting ready for the start of term by teaming up with Gateshead College to offer new students sexual health advice and support.
In terms of the free condom scheme, the team has worked with partners in the community, including GP practices, pharmacies and Gateshead College, to offer free condom ‘grab packs’ for 16 to 25-year-olds. They will be able to pick them up after filling in a short form at one of 18 sites across the borough. They will not have to make an appointment.
Melanie Milburn, our Head of Nursing for Community Services, said: “Using condoms can help to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, cost can be a major factor in condom use for young people on low or no income and those in the 16 to 25 age group traditionally do not go to sexual health clinics. By giving them easy access to condoms at familiar venues in their local area, our aim is to provide them with more choice when it comes to improving their sexual health.”
Following on from the 12-week pilot, the trust hopes to extend the scheme in Gateshead and introduce it in South Tyneside, where it also provides sexual health services.
(Pictured above: The trust’s sexual health service education outreach lead Dan Dobson, outreach administrator Joanne Dodds and sexual health advisor Stephen Minto launching the new free condom pilot scheme)
To mark the start of the academic term, the team will be at the Gateshead College’s Baltic Campus Freshers’ Week event on Wednesday, September 13th, highlighting the services they offer.
Dan Dobson, sexual health education outreach worker with the team, said “We have successfully worked in partnership with Gateshead College for six years promoting the national chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening programme and educating and advising students on looking after their sexual health, which is an important part of overall mental and physical health. Our aim is to support as many students as possible in making the right choices around preventing sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.”
Scott Brown, senior student recruitment co-ordinator at Gateshead College, said: “We are committed to supporting our students to make the best decisions about their health and wellbeing. By working with South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust’s sexual health staff, we’re helping our students to access advice and guidance that will enable them to remain safe and healthy.”
(Pictured above: Gateshead College’s Scott Brown and Students Union’ President Josh Everest with the trust’s sexual health education outreach worker Dan Dobson)
The trust provides sexual health services for people in Gateshead and South Tyneside. No appointment is needed for many of the clinics, some of which are specifically for under-25s. All forms of contraception are available from the majority of clinics. Main clinics at Trinity Square Health Centre, Gateshead, and Stanhope Parade Health Centre, South Shields, also offer screening/testing for sexually transmitted infections. To make an appointment or find out more about the sexual health service in Gateshead ring 0191 2831577/1575 and for South Tyneside ring 0191 4028191 or go to http://www.stft.nhs.uk/service/sexual-health-services