Centre open for free sexual health advice, screening and treatment

Company news

Jul 30, 2015

PEOPLE attending Brighton Pride on Saturday (August 1) will be able to access free advice, treatment or screening for sexual health issues – and free condoms – at Brighton Station Health Centre.

The centre, in Queens Road, is run on behalf of the local NHS by Care UK. It is open 8am-7pm, seven days a week and because the centre offers three different services, visitors wanting sexual health advice or treatment can enjoy anonymity while sitting in the waiting area

Carol Boyd-Jones, Service Manager at the centre, said: “We are going to see a large influx of visitors over the weekend and we want people to know we are open and able to see anyone with a sexual health issue, without an appointment and whether or not they are registered as a patient at the centre.

“We can help with the treatment and screening of a range of sexual health issues, including:

• STI screening and treatment
  - first episode herpes
  - genital warts
  - diagnosis and treatment of common STI’s
• Contraceptive services
  - long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) including; IUD or IUS coils and contraceptive implants
  - emergency contraception
• HIV testing
  - easy and accurate testing
• Full sexual health check-ups

“Brighton has the second highest prevalence of HIV outside of London. Early detection of HIV is critical as there is strong evidence that early intervention will improve health outcomes. Treatment has advanced significantly during the past 15 years so I would encourage people to have a test.”

Leaflets and posters are available at the centre, offering advice and information on HIV and the importance of testing.

The centre, which opened five years ago, has nearly 6,200 registered patients and, during the past five years, has seen 95,000 patients through the walk-in centre and a further 37,000 through the sexual health clinic.