Medical centre launches teen sexual health clinic

The clinic, called SAFE@Rye is the brainchild of local GPs and will be held every every Wednesday afternoon in after school hours.

Rye GP Dr Ben Chishick said: “With sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancy rates steadily on the increase nationally, GP surgeries have been encouraged to offer more local services in an attempt to improve this situation.

“For many years there was a shortage of any local sexual health clinics within Rye.

“In November 2009 staff at the Rye Medical Centre opened a new sexual health clinic. It received enormous support from the local community and proved a great success with the primary aim of trying to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections and reduce teenage pregnancy.

“Rye Medical Centre staff wanted to further improve access to the clinic particularly for young people so the clinic time has now been altered to allow young people to attend in after school hours. The name of the clinic has also been changed to SAFE@ Rye providing Sexual health Advice and Family planning for Everyone.

“The new sexual health clinic will be held weekly on a Wednesday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm. The clinic offers a fully confidential service and is available to anyone of any age, patients do not have to be registered as a patient at the Rye Medical Centre.

“The sexual health clinic offers full sexual health screening including HIV and Hepatitis testing for both men and women. Family planning advice, emergency contraception and free condoms are also available.”

For anyone interested in attending the clinic or registering as a patient please make an appointment by contacting: The Rye Medical Centre, Kiln Drive, Rye Foreign, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7SQ. Tel: 01797 223333. Web Address: www.ryemedicalcentre.com