Christmas and New Year Closures
Our sexual health clinics and phone lines will be closed on the bank holidays over Christmas and New Year.
Clinics and phone lines will also close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
We have information on the “Help Out Of Hours” page of our website about accessing sexual health services when we are closed.
Mpox information
We do not have any mpox vaccines in our services and cannot offer vaccination against mpox. Mpox vaccination is currently being reviewed at a national level. We will continue to add any updates to our website.
Please stay at home and call 111 for advice if you have symptoms of fever and/or rash, and you or your recent sexual contacts have had any travel – within 21 days of your symptoms starting – to any of the following African countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia
52-mg IUS Now Licenced For 8 Years
Some types of hormonal coil (IUS) are now licensed for 8 years for contraception purposes. These are:
– Mirena
– Benilexa
– Levosert
For patients who have a 52mg IUS already, this means that it can remain in place, and be effective, for 8 years from the fitting date. We will from now be refitting 52mg IUS around the 8 year date.
If a 52mg IUS has been fitted for control of bleeding, part of HRT, or treatment for any other gynaecological problem, this does NOT apply.
The new advice does NOT apply to lower dose IUS (Kyleena and Jaydess).
Please note that we only fit/remove coils for contraceptive purposes.
Please call your local team to book a consultation for more information.
Important service information
Accessing services – Appointments will be booked according to your initial clinical assessment; this means you may not get an appointment on the same day you call. A staff member will advise you on accessing the required service. This may be through our walk-in service, an online STI testing kit (ages 16+), a telephone or booked clinic appointment.
Booked appointments – Appointments can be booked online, or by calling 0808 178 0955 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Telford & Wrekin) or 0300 404 2996 (Shropshire). Please arrive 10 minutes BEFORE your appointment time. You may have to be re-booked if you have not arrived by your designated appointment time.
No children in clinic – Due to the nature of our services, it is not always appropriate for children to be present during your visit. If you bring children with you, we may not be able to see you for your appointment. If you are unable to attend the clinic without your children, please contact our team and see if this is something we are able to accommodate.
Phone lines – Please be aware that our phone lines are very busy and there may be a delay in answering your call. If your call is not urgent, you may have a shorter wait if you call in the afternoon, when our phone lines are quieter.
Abuse towards staff is not tolerated – Aggressive, violent and threatening behaviour towards NHS staff or other service users will not be tolerated. Individuals behaving violently towards staff or other service users will be reported to the police.
Male and female clinicians – We have male and female sexual health staff working in our clinic, who carry out intimate examinations and coil procedures. We cannot guarantee whether your clinician will be male or female on the day.
Services available without visiting a clinic
You may be able to get the service you need elsewhere:
STI testing – If you’re 16 or over with no symptoms, you can order an STI testing kit online.
Contraceptive pills – You can get oral contraception from your GP or some pharmacies.
Emergency contraception – You can get the emergency contraception pill (a.k.a “the morning after pill”) at some pharmacies.
Condoms – Register for a C-Card online (ages 16+) or see a list of places where you can register (ages 13+), by visiting our C-Card page