£1m investment in sexual health

Northants Teaching PCT works with Northampton hospital

More than £1m is to be invested in sexual health services in Northamptonshire to help fight the growth in sexual diseases.

Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) aims to spend the money to help modernise the county's services.

The 2007/08 funding will include £731,000 dedicated to ensure that high-quality treatment services for HIV patients are maintained.

Northamptonshire has seen increases in the prevalence of HIV-related diseases.

As part of the modernisation, the PCT plans to develop a countywide sexual health service to provide fast access to both contraceptive services and genito-urinary medicine, including the further development of young people's community-based services.

'Reduce unplanned pregnancies'

Lesley Hamilton, specialist in public health for the PCT, said: "The PCT is determined to improve the sexual health services it provides.

"By providing these improved services, we would fully expect to see a reduction in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies."

An additional £450,000 will be spent on establishing a new screening programme for the sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia, for 15 to 25-year-olds.

To help combat the increase in Chlamydia in young people, the PCT will employ a screening service manager and support team to develop a countywide Chlamydia screening service.

The service will also provide sexual health advice and encourage young people to bring their partners for screening.

The PCT provides a number of services - many in partnership with Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital.