"Sexual health services in Derbyshire"

I get very heavy periods and bad period pains, and this seemed to contribute to my tendency to become anaemic. In January this year my GP, Dr Bendefy at Lime Grove surgery in Matlock (who has been completely brilliant over the two years we've been in the area), recommended I have an IUD fitted and wrote me a prescription for both a Mirena and a Joydess (as due to angle/depth it was unclear whether the former would fit). I collected the IUD and was placed on the list to have it fitted. 

For six months I have tried to have it fitted, but the clinics at the GP were always arranged with too little notice for me to attend (a single monthly clinic, for which I would be called and offered a slot with less than two weeks notice). When I eventually asked if there was no other option, I was given the contact details of the sexual health service, and called them to find that they too offer very few appointments that could be booked with any notice, and there were no available appointments in Matlock or Chesterfield. In the end I agreed to go to Derby for the only appointment that had three weeks notice.

I tried my best to find London Road Hospital in Derby, but as someone who had not been there before this was very difficult! There are no road signs for the hospital, Google Maps is set up to indicate the entrance is on a different road at the rear of the site, and the only tiny sign that says carpark was obscured by a tree! It took me half an hour of driving round the block and numerous u-turns to find the entrance. There were no signs to indicate which departments were on site, or where to go, but once I went inside the main reception was able to give me directions. Because I was late I was told I might not be seen.

Thankfully I was seen, and a very nice male nurse (Robert) did a great job of explaining my options and then trying to insert the Mirena, before successfully inserting the Joydess IUD. It was clear that he was competent and knowledgeable and I felt like he did a great job, despite the fact I was anxious and the task clearly wasn't easy (my cervix spasmed, stopping the Mirena from being fitted). He made an unpleasant procedure as tolerable as possible, and he and the healthcare assistant distracted me with conversation when it was painful and clearly cared about my wellbeing. I was confident about the hygiene and professionalism of the service, and grateful that they fitted me in despite being 15 minutes late.

My feedback is about the need for some sexual health services to be able to be booked with more notice, or slotted into the normal GP appointment calendar. The need for better signage for the London Road hospital. And most of all about the brilliant service I've received from both my GP and the nurse at the sexual health clinic, despite these operational barriers.