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Access to sexual health services

Posted By Nurse mum

"Access to sexual health services"

About: Forth Valley Community Services / Sexual Health General practices in Forth Valley

(as a service user),

I have a coil fitted for contraceptive purposes which was due to be removed at the start August 2022 (this was its expiry date). I called my GP surgery in August to be told that their clinic was full that month and they would put me on a waiting list for the next month.

As a nurse I was concerned about it being in for longer than it should be to be told that it would be fine just to use another method of contraception! No mention of risk of infection! So today I called back as I have had no notice of any appointments becoming available to be told that I am last on the waiting list and that I won’t get an appointment this month so would go on to Octobers list!

I said I wasn’t happy to wait that long and the receptionist advised me to contact the sexual health clinic out with my own area (I am in Stirling, this is in Falkirk) and was given a number to call. The number is wrong so I have googled the number and it is an automated line saying they are busy and then it cuts you off!! Please help me sort this out! 

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Responses

Response from Karen Macfarlane, Department Manager/Senior Nurse, Women,Children & Sexual Health, NHS Forth Valley 2 years ago
Karen Macfarlane
Department Manager/Senior Nurse, Women,Children & Sexual Health,
NHS Forth Valley

Submitted on 02/09/2022 at 09:37
Published on Care Opinion at 09:39

Dear Nurse mum

My name is Alison Sturrock and I am the Lead Nurse for Sexual Health. I am sorry that you were unable to get through to our booking line. Can I please check that the number given to you by your GP is 01324-673554 and that you were given the operating times of the booking line as 08.30-12.30 Monday to Friday?

If this is the correct number and you have been unable to access the service, can you please call me on 01324-673564 and I can try assist with your requirements.

Alternatively, our helpline is available Monday to Friday between 13.30 and 16.00 and is 01324-673562 and we also have a generic e-mail address which is fv.sexualhealth@nhs.scot which is checked throughout the day, Monday to Friday.

Kind regards

Alison

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Nurse mum (a service user)

Many thanks for your reply Alison. My frustration really lies with my GP surgery, and I did highlight that when I wrote my story. The number they gave initially was a different number, however I googled and got the number which you have stated above. I called and that’s when I got the automated line saying it was busy and to call back later and it cut me off. I have now missed the booking helpline time so I will try again after the weekend. I am concerned about how difficult this is to try and organise.

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