Sexual health clinic opens for Leeds students
Terrence Higgins Trust is to launch a clinic which will test and treat university students in Leeds for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The three hour service, which opens in May, will run one day a week and will be located conveniently for students at the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University.
It will offer testing for a variety of infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV. Many of these tests will give rapid results so students attending the clinic can get a diagnosis within an hour.
The clinic will also be able to give antibiotics and other treatments to students ‘on the spot’ so usually there’s no need to make another appointment or go to the chemist with a prescription. Those testing positive for HIV, hepatitis or who have complex diagnosis will be referred to the Leeds Centre for Sexual Health.
David Greenway, Regional Manager of Terrence Higgins Trust in Yorkshire said “Our services will be quick, convenient and located right where they’re needed. Young people are at particularly high risk of STIs so it makes sense to take sexual health services to them. Fast testing and treatment will also bring down the numbers of new infections.”
The new clinic is funded by Leeds North West Primary Care Trust and will be run in partnership with the Leeds Centre for Sexual Health.
Rates of STI diagnoses continue to rise among 16-24 year olds and young people are disproportionately affected by chlamydia, gonorrhoea and genital warts. Terrence Higgins Trust is working on expanding the range of sexual health and support services it provides for young
people.
STI rates have almost trebled in the last decade according to THT statistics.
Figures show the UK has Europe’s largest increase in HIV cases. The THT reports that gay men account for 48% of all HIV cases and 59% of all AIDS cases in the UK.
