More sexual health clinics needed

Sexually-transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies are rising

More sexual health clinics are needed in Suffolk to help cut the levels of teenage pregnancies, abortions and sexual infections, officials have said.

The Suffolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) said it is considering opening clinics in GPs surgeries to make services accessible to more people.

It hopes the move will see the number of unwanted pregnancies fall and cause a drop in rates of chlamydia.

The PCT is to consult with medical workers and the public until January.

Currently sexual health clinics are only based at Ipswich Hospital and the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

Dr Amanda Jones, the deputy director of public health, said: "Although Suffolk has relatively good sexual health and some good services, our rates of sexually transmitted infections are rising and there are high rates of teenage conceptions, particularly in more deprived areas.

"The results from the chlamydia screening programme have shown us that one in ten of those tested have a chlamydia infection.

"This is avoidable and we can help people take more care of their own sexual health with a more co-ordinated service."