Free and timely Sexual Health  care was instituted  by act of parliament in 1917 because the powers that be  – even in that pre-NHS time – recognised how important this was to the health of the whole country. Apparently there were more soldiers out of action because of untreated sexually transmitted diseases than were  wounded in action!

Tomorrow the Sexual Health clinic at Ipswich Hospital, which was purpose-built in 1991,  will close. A number of interim measures are being instituted  to ensure some continuity of services. However, following concern expressed by some of my constituents, I am asking the following question at today’s Full Council:

Following tomorrow’s permanent closure of the Sexual Health clinic at Ipswich hospital, I am reassured that Public Health is working hard to ensure some services will continue be available in Ipswich while a future location is created.  

Can you please tell me what  facilities for immediate STI diagnosis (eg microscopy), for immediate on-site free dispensing of drugs (as opposed to by prescription collected from a pharmacist) and for co-ordination of contact tracing  Public Health is ensuring are put in place in the immediate aftermath of closure?