The Terrence Higgins Trust - www.tht.org.uk
Sexual Health Service in Southend-On-Sea
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will launch a new sexual health service on Monday 1 April in partnership with Provide and Southend University Hospital.
Sexual health services will now be delivered at one new venue in central Southend from the 1st April 2019. To contact the service you can:
- Call the Southend Sexual Health Service intelligence centre on: 0300 303 2693
- Access the service at:
Thamesgate House
31-44 Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
SS2 6DF
The new service will deliver improved sexual health services to the residents of Southend, including contraceptive advice and services, and diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with online access to services coming soon.
The service has been commissioned for residents by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Public Health Directorate
Q&A for Southend Sexual Health Service
Why are sexual health services changing?
The current sexual health services provided by Essex Partnership University Hospital Foundation Trust (EPUT) delivered at the Kingsley Ward Centre on Southchurch Road will continue to operate as normal until 31st March 2019. EPUT will not be providing a Sexually Transmitted Infections screening service from Monday 18 March 2019 onwards. Any patients with symptoms will to be assessed and treated at the Carlingford Centre at Southend Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust (Southend Hospital). Patients with no symptoms are encouraged to access support at the new Southend Sexual Health Service.
The new Southend Sexual Health Service provided by Provide CIC and Southend Hospital will be open from 1st April 2019.
How will sexual health services be delivered from the 1st April 2019?
Sexual health services will be delivered at one new venue in central Southend from the 1st April 2019. To contact the service you can:
- Call the Southend Sexual Health Service intelligence centre on: 0300 303 2693
- Access the service at:
Thamesgate House
31-44 Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
SS2 6DF
What will the telephone number of the new Southend Sexual Health Service be?
The Southend Sexual Health Service intelligence centre number is: 0300 303 2693.
What is the name of the new sexual health service?
The new service delivered by Provide CIC and Southend Hospital will be called the ‘Southend Sexual Health Service’.
Is there a website for the new service
The Southend Sexual Health Service website is currently being developed and the aim is for the website to be online from the 1st April 2019.
What are the plans for existing patients from 1 April 2019
From the 1st April existing sexual health service patients will transfer over to the new Southend Sexual Health Service. Existing patients will re-register with the new Southend Sexual Health Service. Patients will then be able to contact the service through the intelligence centre that will provide access to triage, appointment booking, signposting and STI result management.
What are the plans for new patients from 1 April 2019
New patients are also encouraged to access the service. Following contact with the intelligence centre, patients will be offered services at Thamesgate House.
Can I go to my GP for Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) procedures after the 31st March 2019?
Yes, your GP, if they provide Long Acting Reversible Contraception services, will continue to provide the service from the 1st April 2019 but you must ring your surgery first to find out if they provide Long Acting Reversible Contraception Services.
Any patient who requires Long Acting Reversible Contraception procedures, but has not been able to access the service from the Kingsley Ward Centre Sexual Health Clinic, will be able to access the service from the 1st April 2019 via the Southend Sexual Health Service intelligence centre on: 0300 303 2693.
How do I access advice on sexual health from 1st April 2019?
Any patient who requires sexual health advice can contact the Southend Sexual Health Service intelligence centre from 1st April 2019 on: 0300 303 2693
Do I need to book an appointment for the new Southend Sexual Health Service?
Any patient that requires an appointment at the new Southend Sexual Health Service is encouraged to contact the intelligence centre from 1st April 2019 on: 0300 303 2693
The intelligence centre acts as a single point of access to the new Southend Sexual Health Service, providing triage, appointment booking, and signposting and STI results management.
What are the opening hours for the sexual health service?
The Southend Sexual Health Service intelligence centre is open
- Monday to Friday: 8.00am to 8.00pm
- Saturday: 8.00am to 1.00pm
Out of hours
If you require sexual health advice out of hours contact NHS 111, contact them by telephone on 111 or by visiting NHS 111 Online
Where is the Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinic based?
The current GUM Sexual Health Services located at the Southend Hospital Carlingford Centre is relocating to the Southend Sexual Health Service based at:
Thames Gate House
31-44 Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
SS2 6DF
We advise anyone requiring GUM Sexual Health Services to telephone the intelligence centre from 1st April 2019 on: 0300 303 2693
Can I order an STI test Online?
Plans are on the way to offer online testing for sexually transmitted infections; this will be available in the autumn 2019.
Where can I get free condoms?
To find out more about accessing free condoms contact the Southend Sexual Health Service intelligence centre from 1st April 2019 on: 0300 303 2693
Where do I get my Emergency Contraception pills (EHC)?
If you require access to emergency contraception, patients are advised to contact the Southend Sexual Health Service intelligence centre on: 0300 303 2693 or visit Boots Pharmacy, at the Royals Shopping Centre in Southend-on-Sea.
Who fund sexual health services in Southend?
Sexual Health Services are funded by a number of organisations including NHS England, Clinical Commissioning Groups and Local Authorities. The Southend Sexual Health Service and the Terrence Higgins Trust are funded through the Public Health grant allocation.
Who will deliver HIV prevention services?
The Terrence Higgins Trust will continue to provide the HIV prevention services to Southend-on-Sea residents.