London Bangla A Force for the community…
Local people are being urged to look after their sexual health as experts take to roads across Tower Hamlets to provide advice aboard the new Barts Health bus. The innovative service launched on Wednesday this week at Mile End Hospital, giving local people the opportunity to jump on board and find out about the wide range of support available.
Health experts are opening their doors to provide a full range of sexual health care from contraception, free condoms, pregnancy testing and emergency contraception, through to Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing, screening and treatment. No appointment is needed. Specialists will also be on hand to advise about services for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) reversal and termination of pregnancies, with counselling services specific to sexual health available. Two private rooms aboard the bus are available for confidential discussions, and the bus comes fully equipped with running water and a bathroom.
After an introductory tour across Tower Hamlets, a bus timetable reflecting the most popular “hotspots” will be developed and published on the Barts Health website to enable people to look up exactly when the bus will drop by their area.
Lovelle Smith, Lead Nurse in the Tower Hamlets Contraception and Sexual Health Service, run by Barts Health NHS Trust, explained: “We are proud to be making access to sexual health support easier and quicker than ever before. For the first time, we are bringing care directly to local people instead of them having to come to us. People are welcome to ask our experts about anything that concerns them and get immediate help, or find out how to access other nearby sexual health services. I urge everyone who lives or works in east London and has questions about their sexual health to keep an eye out for our bus and jump on board for quick, friendly and confidential support.”
Dr Somen Banerjee, director of public health for Tower Hamlets Council said: “As Tower Hamlets has some of the highest rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in London especially amongst our gay men and young people, increasing access to sexual health services is a top priority for public health and our partners across the health services. This mobile service is a fantastic way to offer further free and confidential advice, support and testing services to all residents.”
Funded in part by Barts Charity, throughout the year the bus will travel further afield across east London and attend events, including festival Lovebox 2015, to continue offering support wherever and whenever local people need it most.
Barts Health NHS Trust offers a full range of treatment, advice and information at several community sites across east London. Go to:
www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/sexual-health
