Chlamydia Screening on The High Street, UK Dept of Health Announces

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 08 Feb 2005 - 17:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The first step in a drive to make chlamydia screening available in high street pharmacies across the country is now underway, Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson announced today.

Independent health care providers are being asked to submit bids to pilot this new scheme in community pharmacies throughout London and Cornwall - making it easier for young men and women to use Chlamydia screening services.

Successful applicants will provide free chlamydia screening for 16-24 year olds - including the partners of those who test positive - and may also be able to offer patients the choice of receiving treatment at their local pharmacy.

Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson said:

"It's vital that we make it easier for young men and women to get tested for chlamydia. By offering this service in convenient locations on the high street, it will make it easier for people to call in for a screening test - helping to speed up the detection and treatment of chlamydia cases.

"The advantage of using Independent Sector providers, such as pharmacists, is that they are already in position on the high street to provide NHS quality chlamydia testing. This means costs to the taxpayer are kept down and we won't need to draw on staff from other areas of the NHS."

The pilot will be monitored and evaluated over a two year period to test the community pharmacy setting as an alternative access point for chlamydia screening. If successful, the scheme could be rolled out nationally.

Chlamydia testing and screening is currently available in 26 areas of England under the National Chlamydia Screening Programme and is offered in a variety of healthcare and non-healthcare settings including further education colleges, armed forces bases and prisons.

David Pruce, Director of Practice and Quality Improvement at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) said: "The RPSGB welcomes the announcement by Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson for pharmacists to submit bids to pilot a new Chlamydia screening service.

"Pharmacists are experts in medicines and their use, and already make a significant contribution to improving health and preventing illness. The RPSGB works to ensure pharmacists can make their full contribution to the work of the NHS at both national and local level."

Notes to Editors

1. The adverts inviting expressions of interest will appear in the Health Service Journal on Thursday 10 February 2005 and the Pharmaceutical Journal on Saturday 12 February 2005.

2. Bids will be assessed on their ability to offer clinical quality, accessible facilities, fast turnaround times, use of innovative technologies and processes and their ability to make testing easily accessible to the 16-24 year olds.

3. All healthcare providers who meet the required criteria will be considered.

4. Chlamydia is one of the most common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), affecting as many as one in ten sexually active young men and women, but can be easily cured with antibiotics. However, if untreated in women it can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

5. An extra £300m to modernise sexual health services was announced as part of the Public Health White Paper, published in November 2004. This includes £80m to make sure the chlamydia screening programme is available throughout the country by 2007 and a £50m sexual health advertising campaign to warn young people about the top 5 STIs - including chlamydia.

6. There are 26 regional programmes are in place to date - each locally managed by a Chlamydia Screening Office - covering over 25% of Primary Care Trusts in England.

7. Click here for further information on the National Chlamydia Screening Programme:

Issued by : DOH Press Office, UK

• Additional
• References
• Citations