Free Sexual Health Services for Under 25 year olds at your GP
How do I receive free sexual health services?
All Well Dunedin PHO General Practices offer this service to our enrolled patients under the age of 25 years. Simply make your appointment (must be for a sexual health matter) with your doctor and you will not be charged for the visit.
You are encouraged to go to your regular doctor, but the consultation will still be free if you choose another Doctor providing they also belong to the Well Dunedin PHO. The doctor or nurse will require informed consent from you if any identifiable details need to be forwarded to Well Dunedin for health monitoring purposes or for practice reimbursement.
Why is it needed?
Dunedin, like the rest of New Zealand, has seen a large increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the past 10 years, ahead of that of countries with similar populations and statistics.
The greatest increase is in the number of Chlamydia cases - the most common bacterial STI and one for which there are excellent tests and treatments available.
In Dunedin, an increase of nearly 30% in Chlamydia diagnoses was noted from 2002 to 2003. That actually means that 702 patients had confirmed Chlamydia in Dunedin in 2003. 80% of these patients were under 24 years of age. The long-term effects can be very damaging, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancies, salpingitis, chronic pelvic pain, and pregnancy related complications such as premature births and neonatal infections.
Unwanted pregnancies and terminations in this age group are also increasing.
This programme complements the services provided by the Dunedin Sexual Health Clinic and the Family Planning Clinic.
|
