To think this service is unacceptable?

[moralberyll]

My dd attended a large contraception and sexual health clinic today which previously offered a walk in service where you could sit and wait to be seen or book an appointment in advance, today she was told that it is now an appointment only system and the next available appointment isn't for another 2 weeks! Her gp won't prescribe contraception and just refers people to this clinic, so what are young people supposed to do? I thought we were supposed to be encouraging young people to take control of there sexual health and prevent teenage pregnancy? The rational thing to do would be to abstain or use condoms until an appointment becomes available but teenagers aren't always rational beings are they!

I've lurked for a long time, but some of the responses on this thread have irritated me so much, I had to join to reply.

When I had to have my implant changed last year, it was a fucking nightmare. The sexual health clinics in my area all required a 2 stage drop in process- one appointment to discuss the problem, followed a week later by an appointment to actually have what you needed done done. It didn't matter that I didn't have any questions about the procedure or need any guidance. This was in addition to severely restricted opening times and locations. I eventually managed to get an appointment with the nurse practicioner to have it replaced, but it took so much effort that had I not been desperate, I probably wouldn't have continued trying.

The cuts have huge implications for teens in abusive relationships- it's definitely not as simple as just buying condoms or abstaining. Using sexual health as control does happen, and an unwanted pregnancy could have severe consequences for a young woman- especially if her family are likely to throw her out and put her completely at the mercy of her abusive partner. Why are some people so bent out of shape by young women trying to be responsible for their own health?!

Not bent out of shape at all but I imagine the service has to be run in the most efficient/cost effective way and that's why it had changed its drop in/booking procedure.

It doesn't sound like a service exclusively for young person so will have to be run with all users in mind.

I haven't read the entire thread. Have you checked to see how far the next available clinic is? It could be worth checking to see if they have earlier appts or do a drop in.

I also agree with previous posters, I would buy some condoms. Poundland now sell condoms for a £1.

Good luck.

Is the c card not available in your area?

Id be pissed, ive always had to take contraception to control periods.
Why can the gp not prescribe?
Do any boots in your area run a clinic?

Blimey, the contrarians are out in force tonight. Of course it's unacceptable for a service to go from walk in to 2 week wait, particularly when a) the service is time sensitive, b) the client group is often vulnerable and c) the consequences of not accessing the support lifechanging.

When the NHS is buckling under the strain, and waiting lists for cancer treatement and other life-threatening conditions are getting longer due to lack of funding, then perhaps teenagers desperate for a shag should buy their own condoms.

as someone said most counties run the C-card scheme - where you can get a card by applying on-line, print off and take it to your local participating pharmacy (with a green C sticker on display) for free condoms.

Teens are not always comfortable to go their parents. The OP is not unreasonable. There should always be a sexual health clinic available to everyone. What if she needed the morning after pill? She'd end up pregnant as GP refuses to deal with sexual health and she couldn't wait for an appointment.

Withoutthelittledots what about the cost of unplanned pregnancy? Abortions, counselling, cost to mental health services or the cost if a teenager decides to keep the baby who is not financially stable and relies on benefits?

I have the depo injection and work full time. Our family planning nurse at the Drs surgery is the only person who can administer this. She works two days a week between 9-5. I work an hour away from home and am a teacher, which means it's very difficult for me to get away from work during the day, especially because it's a 3 hour round trip for something that takes 30 seconds. There is no one who covers her services when she's on holiday. Because she works such limited hours she is booked up weeks and WEEKS in advance and if she's off, tough luck. It is so stressful, and obviously because of the timings required I can't automatically make appointments for the holidays.

I would be cross too. Here our practice nurse prescribes contraception and she’s lovely.

This is ducking madness but not as mad as some of these replies. For a minute try and remember what it was like as a horny teen -anything that wasn’t already in my pocket didn’t stand a chance of being used. So waiting 2 weeks was never on my radar. Most of my relationships didn’t last 2 weeks.

Perhaps you’d prefer we just tell our teens to play it safe and go anal. Like large parts of the States.

Regardless of the viewpoints of the terminally disingenuous on this thread, the outcome of this sort of policy change IS going to be an increase in unwanted pregnancies.

Which will be far more costly for the NHS in the long run, not to mention the impact on the health and wellbeing of women.

I'm with you, OP - and I've worked in family planning and abortion services. One of the key reasons the UK has been so successful in driving down its teenage pregnancy rate is through making contraception freely and readily accessible. Yes, young people should be able to navigate appointment systems and wait two weeks - but a very significant number can't or won't. "Let them get pregnant, then", is a tempting response but not a very effective one, in terms of maximising public health.

Call your doctors and ask for advice about the nearest walk in that prescribes.
My 3 closest clinics all shut this year and I hadn’t a clue where to go but the receptionist at the docs told me where to go xx

Give your head a wobble.

'Give your head a wobble'?

Are you fucking twelve?

I agree it is bad.

I once needed the morning after pill and it was a Saturday of a bank holiday I think. Nowhere for me to get it in regards to drop in etc and no shops had the pharmacy manager in to prescribe free one however I could of bought the one they offered without them there. I didn't have any money at the time so I was well and truely fked.

I agree with you OP. It’s an awful state of affairs and having to wait 2 weeks for contraception carries a lot of risk.

Those that are saying if you’re mature enough to have sex you’re mature enough to wait are fucking naive.

A lack of access to sexual health clinics has a disproportionate negative affect on women.

I there is a distinct whiff of 'women should just keep their legs shut' on this thread, which is mind-boggling for a site populated most by worldly, experienced women, who take contraception (and the freedoms it provides) for granted.

I hope there are a few people having a bit of a harder think about this.

At least she's young enough to go to U25 clinics. I cross London to access a service that serves all ages, is at times I can do and is accessible on public transport. They're also bloody good.

Everywhere nearer seems to only offer u25 screening and my local Family Planning Clinic is contraception only. I am not disputing the need for u25 facilities- but does no one in Surrey have sex past 25? I've gone to the cross London walk in across before, after scary bleeding.

Most pharmacies are generally part of the C card scheme offering free condoms for the under 25s.
Most pharmacies will offer the morning after pill (taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex and is free for those who get free prescriptions).

There is easily accessible contraception out there to fill the gap between now and getting the pill - AND condoms - sexual health is best served by a barrier method.

I fear that this is just the start, what next, restricted and difficult access to abortions?

Problem is though cuts are being made across the whole NHS / budgets can only stretch so far so why should this area be immune from cuts when no other is?

Ideally nobody would have to wait for anything but we don’t live in an ideal world

And it upsets me that we seem to just accept these cuts and put up no fight whilst believing that there really is 'no money left'.