New Southend Sexual Health Service to launch

March 26, 2019 by Joanna

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will launch a new sexual health service on Monday 1 April in partnership with Provide and Southend University Hospital.

This 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. 

Cllr Lesley Salter, cabinet member for healthy communities and wellbeing, said: “The new Southend Sexual Health Service is committed to delivering a modern, confidential, sensitive and professional service for the residents of Southend-on-Sea. 

“People who use these services will still be able to access the advice, tests and treatments they need and with faster results. Many sexually transmitted infections are easily treated and I would encourage people to seek advice at an early stage." 

The service will be located at Thamesgate House, 31-44 Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6DF.

Residents can contact the new service via the intelligence centre from Monday 1 April as follows:

Telephone: 0300 303 2693

Email: provide.southendsexualhealthservice@nhs.net 

The intelligence centre will act as a single point of access to the service, providing triage, appointment booking, signposting, and STI results management. The operating hours of the service are: 

·         Monday–Friday: 8am-8pm

·         Saturday: 8am-1pm

Until Monday 1 April, sexual health services in Southend will continue to be offered by Essex Partnership University Hospital Foundation Trust (EPUT), delivered at the Kingsley Ward Centre on Southchurch Road as normal.

Terrence Higgins Trust will continue to provide HIV prevention and sexual health outreach services for the residents of Southend and the service will be co-located with the services being provided by Provide and Southend Hospital.

All permanent employees are being transferred over to the new service on Monday 1 April 2019 in line with the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) Regulations, retaining their NHS terms and conditions of employment.

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