Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 - NHS North Somerset

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011
What are we doing about it?
A number of steps are being taken in North
Somerset to reduce the level of sexually
transmitted infections in the community. As
well as being part of the National Chlamydia
Screening Programme, there are actions
aimed at sexual health promotion and
improving access to services.
Health Promotion
It is essential that action is taken to prevent
sexually transmitted infections, including HIV,
occurring in the first place to reduce both
human and financial costs. North Somerset
has a programme of sexual health promotion
aimed at increasing awareness of the signs
and symptoms of sexually transmitted
infections, and encouraging safer sex. This
includes:
● Free condoms given to those attending ‘No
Worries!’ Teenage Health Service, Weston
Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Centre, the
Terrence Higgins Trust, the Youth Services,
Youth Offending Service and some GP
practices and pharmacies.
● Training of Local Authority and NHS staff in
relation to sexually transmitted infections
and HIV, including the ‘No Regrets’
programme aimed at providing young
people with the skills to delay sexual
activities and training to foster carers.
● Publicity campaigns to improve awareness
of chlamydia and HIV, including club
promotion evenings, a sexual health bus for
young people, bus campaigns, radio adverts
and a quarterly newsletter for young
people and professionals.
● Terrence Higgins Trust provides online
advice on internet sites for men who have
sex with men, such as Gaydar and delivers
national prevention campaigns locally.
Access to services
It is important that those with a sexually
transmitted infection are diagnosed and
treated quickly. This reduces the risk of
serious illness to themselves and the chance
that infection will be spread to others. All of
North Somerset patients attending the
Weston Integrated Sexual Health (WISH)
Zoe’s Story
Zoe (not her real name) is 17 and
started on the contraceptive pill three
years ago to control her periods which
were painful, heavy and erratic. She
has a boyfriend now and needs contra -
ception. In the last two months she has
had migraine like headaches.
Zoe went to her GP and discussed stop -
ping the pill and alternative options.
She was interested in having a contra -
ceptive implant, and went away to
rethink. She then booked an appointment
with a GP trained to fit
an implant.
Before she left, the GP asked her to
do a chlamydia test which came back
positive. She went back to the GP with
her partner and the GP provided treat -
ment for them both to run concurrently.
She had no other contacts. He had had
a previous girlfriend and because she
lives away from the area he agreed that
the chlamydia screening team could
contact her.
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