Listening to your feedback: Changes to your local sexual health service
This comes after a consultation where over 100 people shared their thoughts. The services, delivered by Yor Sexual Health and provided by the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, are being reviewed and updated. This review is part of a new 10-year plan to ensure the services meet the community’s needs despite a 30% reduction in public health funding since 2015.
Yor Sexual Health - what do they offer?
If you are looking for reliable sexual health and contraception services in York and North Yorkshire, Yor Sexual Health can help.
They offer a range of confidential, free, and friendly services for everyone. Whether you need help with sexual health, contraception, living with HIV, or support for LGBTQ+ individuals, they are here for people locally.
Yor Sexual Health also provide counselling, free condoms, and support for sex workers and people with learning difficulties. Plus, they offer training for professionals and support for those considering their options around abortions.
What’s changing?
Here are some of the key changes happening over the next 12 months:
- Clinic hours: Instead of closing on Saturdays, the clinic will now close on Wednesday mornings.
- Online STI testing: There will be an ‘enhanced triage’ system to ensure you get the right test for your needs.
- Long-acting reversible contraception: Services will be focused on those who need it most, with GPs and pharmacists stepping in to help with basic contraception needs
Why these changes?
Peter Roderick, Director of Public Health, explains that these changes are necessary to keep providing high-quality services despite funding cuts. He said:
“We’ve listened to your feedback and made adjustments to lessen the impact. Sexual health services are vital, and we’re committed to maintaining their quality,”
Jo Mannion, Consultant and Care Group Director for Family Health, adds:
“We’re proud of the services we’ve provided and look forward to continuing our work in partnership.”
Moving forward
City of York Council and the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are working towards a new contract to start in 2025 or 2026. This new agreement aims to keep sexual health services accessible and effective for everyone locally.
Thank you for your continued support and feedback. As a Healthwatch, we will continue to listen and ask for changes when they are needed. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community has access to the sexual health services they need.
Find your nearest clinic
Yor Sexual Health have clinics across the whole of North Yorkshire and York which offer a full range of specialist sexual health and contraception services.
www.yorsexualhealth.org.uk/clinic-information
