A new improved service for patients requiring sexual health support, advice or treatment is being introduced at the Sandyford and local Sandyford hub centres as from Monday, June 8th.
The new service will see patients needing sexual health services ring for an appointment to a one stop telephone number – 0141 211 8130. Everyone who calls will speak to a qualified sexual health nurse who will ascertain what service is required. Anyone requiring urgent care will be seen the same day or next day and patients with non-urgent conditions will be booked an appointment in a scheduled service.
At the moment patients can walk in off the street but often this results in people waiting a long time to be seen by an appropriate specialist and in some cases having to return the next day.
The new system will fit appointments around the patient freeing up their time and getting them seen quicker in some instances.
Dr Pauline McGough, Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Clinical Director,Sandyford, Glasgow, said: “We are creating an improved service that we hope meets the needs of the patients who require sexual health treatment.
“Calls will be taken by an experienced sexual health nurse who will quickly identify the patient’s needs and provide an appropriate appointment.
“By introducing a one stop telephone number patients who ring with urgent care needs will be seen as a priority, in most cases the same day, and non urgent cases will be given an appointment at an appropriate clinic at a time that suits them.
“We also recognise that we may have patients who will continue to walk in without an appointment. They will still be able to speak to an experienced sexual health nurse and offered an appointment with the appropriate service. However, we urge everyone who can to use the telephone number – 0141 211 8130 – which will be manned between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm every day.”
The changes will not affect the Young People’s dedicated clinic times in the afternoon where young people under 17 years of age can still drop in without an appointment.
ENDS
For further media information either telephone 0141 201 4429 or email press.office@ggc.scot.nhs.uk