Pre-bookable appointments, a daily nurse telephone triage service and additional telephone appointment capacity have been introduced to boost South Tyneside Sexual Health Services.
The pre-bookable appointments (no triage needed) are being offered for all contraception requests, cervical screening, pregnancy options discussion and asymptomatic screening for sexually transmitted infections. Patients should call 0191 4028168 to book an appointment with the reception team between 8.45am and 6.50pm.
Contraception appointments
Available daily Monday to Saturday at Palmers Community Hospital and Mondays from 1.30pm to 6.30pm at Stanhope Parade Health Centre in South Shields. Evening repeat supply contraception appointments are available Monday to Friday from 5pm to 7:20pm.
Asymptomatic screening appointments
Available with the healthcare assistant team Monday to Friday.
Sexual Health Outreach appointments
Available in community settings for vulnerable young people unable to access mainstream services including under-16s.
Symptomatic telephone appointments
For service users with symptoms of an infection, sexual health queries or urgent care needs, a daily nurse telephone triage service is available Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 12.15pm and is open to all ages. To book a telephone assessment call the sexual health appointments line on 0191 4028168 between 8.45am and 12:15pm and a nurse will call back. Following assessment, a suitable appointment will be offered if necessary (please note appointments are limited and if there are no appointments available when you call, you will be asked to contact the service the following day unless there is an urgent sexual healthcare need).
Young people aged under 18
If you are unable to contact sexual health services during the morning telephone triage clinic, further telephone appointment capacity has been added to support young people in education and home learning by calling 0191 4028168 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6.50pm. Dedicated young person clinic appointments are available Thursdays between 3pm and 6pm at Palmers Community Hospital.
As part of the telephone triage, patients will be asked to provide their name, address, DOB and telephone number and will receive a call back from the nursing team, usually the same day.
During each telephone triage the nursing team will either arrange an appointment for the patient to attend clinic, signpost the patient to the online home testing facility, other services, or provide advice on how to self-manage their condition.
Remote digital services
Continuing remote digital services include:
- Online testing for home delivery
- The online home testing kit offers screening for infections such as HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea and is available to order 24 hours a day from the South Tyneside Sexual Health Service website. The online test offer is available for both male and females over the age of 16+. Please visit the South Tyneside Sexual Health website to order: www.southtynesidesexualhealth.nhs.uk
- Online condom scheme
- The online condom scheme is available for both male and females over the age of 16+. To order condom kits direct: Please visit https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/services/sexual-health-services/request-condom-pack
- Digital service tour
- The virtual tour aims to break down barriers of a Sexual Health service environment, by providing a digital first person experience and guided tour of Sexual Health Services at Palmer Community Hospital in Jarrow.
For all advice and information enquiries, contact main reception on 0191 4028168.
