New sexual health service launched on St Valentine's Day

A new sexual health service for young people is being launched by NHS Brighton and Hove and local pharmacies across the city on St Valentine’s Day.

The new service will make condoms, chlamydia testing and treatment, and emergency hormonal contraception available, all free of charge, to people aged under 25.

Amanda Marshall, community pharmacy development manager at NHS Brighton and Hove, said: “Twenty three local pharmacies will offer this service which is part of our drive to improve young people’s sexual health and reduce unwanted pregnancies. 

“When using this accessible service, young people will have a confidential chat with the pharmacist.  This will ensure they are fully aware of the risks of sexually transmitted infections and the benefits of safe sex and efficient contraception.”

As part of the free service, young people can:

• Collect condoms, using the C-Card scheme which means a card is stamped whenever condoms are collected.

• Have a free chlamydia test – untreated chlamydia can lead to infertility.  If the test is positive, a nurse will contact the young person and organise antibiotic treatment via the pharmacy.

• Collect emergency hormonal contraception, sometimes known as the morning after pill, if needed.

The 23 pharmacies involved will highlight the new service via posters and information in their stores. A list of participating pharmacies and information about sexual health can also be seen at www.brightonandhove.nhs.uk  and at www.swish.org.uk .

[and in Notes to Editors at the end of this release]

Ends

• The following Brighton and Hove pharmacies are offering the new sexual health service from Monday 14 February:

Pharmacy	Address		Postcode
Boots	119-120 London Road	Brighton	BN1 4JH
Boots	129 North Street	Brighton	BN1 2BE
Ross	3 York Place	Brighton	BN1 4GU
Stephen Bower	109 St James Street	Kemp Town	BN2 1TH
Superdrug	78 Western Rd	Brighton	BN1 2HA
Asda	The Marina	Brighton	BN2 5UT
Kamsons	50 The Highway	Moulsecoomb	BN2 4GB
Westons	6-7 Coombe Terrace	Brighton	BN2 4AD
Burwash	11 Burwash Rd	Hove	BN3 8GP
University	Health Centre B.	Brighton	BN1 9RW
Alliance	76 Boundary Rd	Hove	BN3 5TD
Boots	57-61 George St	Hove	BN3 3YD
Co-op	Mile Oak Clinic	Portslade	BN41 2WF
Day Lewis	181 Church Rd	Hove	BN3 2AB
Lane & Steadman	100 Western Rd	Hove	BN3 1GA
Lloyds	105 Church Road	Hove	BN3 2AF
Kamsons	2 Lewes Rd	Brighton	BN2 3HP
Co-op	13 Warren Way	Woodingdean	BN2 6PH
Bridgmans	116 Cowley Drive	Woodingdean	BN2 6TD
I V Jones	128 St James St	Kemp Town	BN2 1TH
Watts	110 Dyke Rd	Brighton	BN1 3TE
Lloyds Pharmacy	Wellsbourne Health Centre	Whitehawk	BN2 5FJ
Lloyds Pharmacy	County Oak Medical Centre ,Carden Hill	Brighton	BN1 8DD