DURING this time of uncertainty, the team at Sexual Health Wirral is assuring Globe readers that although its clinic doors may be limiting the number of people coming through, the service is 'still here for you'.

Part of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, it has built on its existing interactive website, as well as adopting new, innovative ways of providing care and treatment.

All sexual health walk-in and wait clinics are suspended, but a responsive telephone assessment and consultation service is in place, providing support, advice and treatment.

The team has also worked with a number of community pharmacies to enable access to sexual health and contraception support. A list of community pharmacies is online at sexualhealthwirral.nhs.uk.

Judy Fairbairn, service development, outreach and engagement lead for the service said: "In addition to our daily clinics, we have an important role to play around education and prevention.

"So whilst we're unable to go out into communities and talk to people face-to-face, continuing to share messages to educate people and minimise risk has been really important.

"We've received many calls into our service asking a variety of questions from 'transmission of COVID-19 by having sex' to 'I'm in isolation how do I get my contraceptive pill?’, so making sure people have factual information and feel assured that they can still receive our care has been key.

The service’s resident GP Sexual Health Champion, Jane Wilkinson, is also urging people to look after their sexual health during this time of crisis.

She said: "It's times like this when we should be more aware of looking after ourselves, to stay fit and well; preventing an unplanned pregnancy during a time of huge uncertainty.

"As the lockdown plan is revealed it’s extremely important that we all continue to think about staying safe and this includes safe sex!"

There are three ways to access support from the team at Sexual Health Wirral: 

  • For a telephone assessment please call 0300 123 5474
  • To request an STI kit or access a range of advice, support and FAQs online visit www.sexualhealthwirral.nhs.uk
  • 'Like' Sexual Health Wirral’s Facebook page to keep up-to-date with all sexual health and contraceptive news and updates @SHWirral.