Sexual health and wellbeing is a priority at both a national and local level. The incidence of sexually transmitted disease has been rising in the United Kingdom in recent years, particularly among young people.
Tackling sexual health issues includes a range of activities across partner agencies focused on promotion, prevention, screening and treatment.
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection. The number of cases has risen steadily since the mid 1990s and more than tripled from 30,794 cases diagnosed in 1995 to 109,958 in 2005.
In 2006, there were 1,623 new diagnoses of Chlamydia in 16 - 19 year olds in the North East compared with 894 in 2002. The rates amongst 16-19 and 20-24 year old women in the North East in 2006 were 1,537 and 1,291 per 100,000 respectively (Health Protection Agency, 2007).
90% of patients to the Genito-urinary Medicine (GUM) service are offered an appointment within 48 hours of their first contact.
The uptake of Chlamydia screening has increased to 16.2% (February 2009). We outperform the North East SHA and England rates and Newcastle is ranked 28th out of 152 PCTs.
The uptake of Chlamydia screens has increased through measures including putting gynaecological screens through the Chlamydia screening programme, further work with schools on both educational activities and access to screening, full engagement of antenatal services, links with C-Card scheme via registration, training and monitoring and continued innovative marketing and targeting.
Embed Chlamydia testing in core services and a range of settings including GP practices, pharmacies, schools, colleges, leisure and entertainment venues
Build on the work in schools to offer a rolling programme of Chlamydia education and screening for all year 11 and 6th form students
Target sections of the community with whom traditional services often find it difficult to engage, e.g. BME communities and people with learning disabilities and physical impairments
Develop a programme of activities throughout the year where opportunistic screening can be undertaken, e.g. evolution festival and other open air events
Improve access to treatment for young people for Chlamydia via CASH services and pharmacies
Sex and Relationship Education Strategy (Pdf)
Sex and Relationship Education Booklet (Pdf, 235.4Kb)
C-Card Scheme: Exploring its meaning and effects on young people's sexual health (pdf, 104.43 KB)Â
Sex and relationship education quality mark (pdf, 615.9kb)
Chlamydia screening section (external site)
Family Services Directory
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - shared online information resource for everyone who commissions, provides or uses health, social and children's services in the city
Judith Stonebridge
Public Health
Phone: 0191 217 2500