24 February 2009
A new sexual health centre to educate young people about sex and relationships has been launched by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust and Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust.
At a time when a 13-year-old boy can grab headlines for becoming the youngest father in Britain, the drop-in centre - which runs on Monday evenings at the Green Wrythe Lane Clinic - aims to listen to and advise young people on all aspects of contraception and sexual health.
Yvonne Walker is a senior health advisor in St Helier Hospital’s Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) department and is one of the main advisors at the new centre. She said: "The new clinic, which is known as The Point, is a 'one stop shop' for all of the sexual health advice and support that young people in the area could need. We offer screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), contraception, free condoms and emergency contraception (the ‘morning after pill’), and impartial advice from experts.
"There are clear consequences when young people are not given advice and information about sex, and that’s where we come in. There’s a definite need for a service like this one, and we hope that it is well-used by young people on a regular basis.
"We offer a confidential, non-judgemental service that can help young people make informed decisions about sex. My sessions focus on delaying sex, but we also cover other issues. We talk a lot about personal choice, dealing with pressure and the consequences of unprotected sex."
The Point gives young people a space to think about, and discuss, a range of issues that they might find difficult to discuss with other people.
Gill Mullinar, Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Coordinator for Sutton, said: "I'm really pleased that the new clinic is up and running. It means that young people, including those under 16s, can drop in after school on a Monday and talk in private about any aspect of sex and relationships.
"Every year over a hundred girls aged 17 or under in the London Borough of Sutton become pregnant, with more than half of them terminating their pregnancy. We know that young people need better sex and relationships education at school and that it’s really important for parents and carers to talk to their children about relationships and choices. But we also know that clinics like The Point are vital in helping us to reduce unwanted teenage pregnancy and improve young people’s sexual health."
The Point is open to young people aged 19 and under in Sutton and Merton every Monday from 3.30 until 5pm. For more information, call the Sutton and Merton PCT Sexual Health Helpline on 020 8407 3636.
