Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Sexual Health worsening
The BBC is reporting a significant rise in sexually transmitted infections in teenagers and young people. The Department of Health are apparently about to produce a “Sexual Health Promotion Strategy” before the Stormont summer recess.
From the Department press release: Targets included in the Strategy include: increasing the number of teenagers delaying sexual activity; reducing the rate of births to teenage mothers; reducing the incidence of STIs; and reducing the access time to Genito Urinary Medicine GUM clinics to two working days.
The Children’s Commissioner also has a press release on the subject and a policy paper which outlines some of the problems.
One of her comments which particularly struck me was that about young people in Fermanagh having a sixty mile trip to the nearest clinic. In most things to do with modern acute health care centralisation is key (whatever John Robb may have had to say on the subject). Regarding largely out patient based specialities such as sexual health clinics, however, there is significant merit in rolling them out as widely as possible provided staff experience levels can be maintained.
Turgon @ 05:41 PM
I wondered if you’d fall for that one, Belfast Metal.
All this jumping about should surely ramp up the STD stats, especially when linked to the strapline: “Kick off your stilletos (OY YEAH) & f**k me in the backseat”. I wonder if NICCY’s proposals will impact on that sort of ‘yoof’ mindset ...
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 10:03 AMI hope this ‘Sexual Health Promotion Strategy’ includes actual money for medical services. It’s all very well ‘promoting’ the importance of sexual health, but telling everyone to be good sexual citizens and get themselves checked out is useless if (like an ex of mine) they dutifully turn up the the GUM clinic only to be told to return weeks later at 8:30am and wait all day in the hope of being seen. This is bad enough if you’re an adult who can’t get time off work - for people still at school, or who live in rural areas without their own transport, it’s a bad joke.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 11:41 AMYeah, Nevin - fell for it :) However, maybe if that ‘yoof’ mindset was talked about in good Relationship and Sexual Health Education the question stilletos and backseats would never be asked, or the answer would be f**k off I’ve more respect for myself...and I’d never get the backseat of a Vauxhall Nova! And, yes Ermintrude there does appear to be some money allocated, but whether it will be enough, and whether the issue of school hours is ever addressed is another matter altogether. Having said that a smalll few Family Planning Clincs stay open in the evenings...too few, and no similar GUM options. Also McGimpsey’s proposal for 48 hours after referral to GUM Clinics is not at all young person friendly as they’ll have to get a referral from GP (which most YP don’t got to on sensitive issues) or turn up in the faint hope that they’ll be seen as an emergency
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 01:51 PMBelfast Metal, school is akin to an open prison for many young people so, sadly, I suspect even the very best of education will have limited impact amongst those with raging hormones.
NICCY has had a look at Bebo content but seems mesmerised by the challenge.
Posted by on May 15, 2008 @ 08:26 PM“school is akin to an open prison for many young people so, sadly, I suspect even the very best of education will have limited impact amongst those with raging hormones. “
Well I can safely say nobody in the SB UUP ever mentioned the thing to me (ever). Hang on, that might be a lie. Just a tick.
Nope nothing.
G.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 04:09 AMi dont wear stilettos nevin...fealty took them for himself on the umteenth time he banned me
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 06:37 AMGregory, it’s all in the detail. I referred to ‘open prison’, not Maghaberry ;)
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 12:19 PMDon’t start me on prisonsa, I cut my teeth on County Jails in the USA,
however nothing in fairness, prepared me for the mind-flapping obfuscation of the Brits, it is little wonder there are so many pseudo-inquiries,
My latest BBC FOI, came back as already in the public domain, when I asked ‘where’ they said ‘that’s a secret’.
You gotta love it
G.
Posted by on May 16, 2008 @ 05:30 PM
