Royal Greenwich Innovates Its Sexual Health Services

by our RBG Correspondent in Woolwich

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is making it even easier for people to access sexual health services in the borough in a way that suits them.

Following extensive consultation with people who use the services, the Royal Borough is extending access in the community. The borough was the first local authority in the UK to launch home testing kits for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections and is now making it even easier for people to test for STIs at home.

Greenwich residents who want help, advice or treatment for sexual health issues can go to a number of clinics and other contact points in the borough – such as local pharmacies, depending on what their needs are. The borough has eight community sexual health clinics including dedicated clinics for young people, men who have sex with men, and African communities.

Opening hours are being extended at the Market Street Clinic in Woolwich and the Trafalgar Clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich will become a referral only service – following feedback that people would prefer treatment for non-complicated sexual health issues within the community and away from the hospital environment.

The updates to the service will take effect from Saturday 1 October. Comprehensive advice and details of how to access sexual health services in Royal Greenwich can be found at www.greenwichsexualhealth.org.

Cllr. David Gardner, Royal Borough of Greenwich Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care (top right) said: “We’re proud to be leading the way in modernising sexual health services. We know the vast majority of service users prefer a clinic or the home environment for testing and treating non-complicated STIs which is why we’re expanding our community services," adding "I know a lot of people may feel self-conscious when needing to use sexual health services but I can assure everyone that here in Greenwich we offer a comprehensive, open access, confidential and non-judgmental sexual health service accessible across the borough.”

Cllr Gardner said that only people with more complicated needs will now need to go to the Trafalgar Clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital which is becoming a referral only service for Greenwich residents.