Sexual health clinic in Helensburgh cut

Patients in the Helensburgh area could face a round-trip to of up to 230 miles to access sexual health services after a clinic in the town was cut.

Helensburgh’s specialist sexual health clinic was discontinued after the retirement of a staff member last year, and well woman clinics were also ceased.

Now patients, including women requiring the contraceptive coil, are being diverted to other clinics in Lochgilphead, Campbeltown and Oban.

Health officials are also supporting GPs to provide some services locally.

Residents requiring sexual health services were previously referred to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Sandyford Clinic, however, this arrangement was terminated in 2015.

Until last year, services for patients from Helensburgh and Lomond were then provided at the East King Street-based Victoria Integrated Care Centre, but these were suspended after the doctor in charge retired.

Now patients are being asked to attend centres at the other three main locations in Argyll and Bute, while the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP) attempts to persuade NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to host the service once more.

The HSCP, which oversees primary care provision, cites the high level of specialism required to provide such services as the reason behind failure to reinstate the clinic and say it needs instead to be linked to a larger site, such as the Sandyford.

But the Glasgow clinic is already under-pressure, with patients complaining of lack of availability since the Covid pandemic.

Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie said: “It is unacceptable that residents in Helensburgh and Lomond should be directed to areas such as Oban and Campbeltown for provision of sexual health services.

“It is imperative that residents are able to easily access these services locally, in line with pledges made by NHS Highland when responsibility for service provision in Helensburgh and Lomond transferred to them.

“Services in Glasgow are already under pressure but it is unthinkable and untenable for patients in Helensburgh and Lomond to be directed across NHS Highland for the care they need.”

A spokesman for NHS HIghland said: Due to a number of issues, including staff retirement, the delivery of the sexual health clinic from the Victoria Infirmary site in Helensburgh was suspended in October last year.

“We are currently reviewing the service and are investigating a number of potential options to understand how we might deliver this service.

“We are working with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and with local GP practices to understand how best to manage patient need both immediately and as part of a longer term plan for sexual health services.”