Adults' sexual health
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Sexual health and contraceptive services
Central and North-West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), Sexual Health Services provider for Barnet have now resumed sexual health services at the following clinics.
Edgware Community Hospital
Address: Sexual Health Clinic, Lower Ground Floor, Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware, HA8 0AD
Opening times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 3pm
- Tuesday: 12.30am to 7pm
- Wednesday: 8.30am to 3pm (the clinic is closed from1pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month)
- Thursday: 12.30pm to 7pm
- Friday: 8.30am to 3pm
We are not open on bank holidays.
Vale Drive Primary Care Centre
Address: Vale Drive, Barnet EN5 2ED
Opening times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 3pm
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 12.30pm to 7pm (the clinic is closed between 1pm and 4.30pm for training on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month)
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday: Closed
We are not open on bank holidays.
CNWL are also offering urgent care for Emergency Hormonal Contraception and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Under 18s services.
How we are keeping you safe
Due to COVID-19, CNWL continue to provide telephone assessments for patients and if medically indicated, they will offer a booked face-to-face appointment in the clinic for:
- IUC
- SDI
- GUM.
CNWL have put in place strict social distancing measures and, all patients are assessed for COVID-19 symptoms on the telephone.
Patients who attend the clinic are also assessed at the door for COVID-19 symptoms (high temperature; a new, continuous cough; loss of, or change to your sense of smell or taste).
While in the clinic all patients and staff wear surgical masks/PPE as appropriate.
CNWL website has information about how Barnet residents can access CNWL’s Sexual Health, HIV and Hepatitis services during this period of reduced service delivery.
CNWL and Barnet Council will continue to monitor the situation which is changing daily and we will keep this website updated if there are any more changes.
Visit the Sexual Health website for more details.
The Bridge Sexual Health Service
The Bridge Sexual Health Service for people with learning disabilities and autism has opened two new clinics in Barnet at Edgware Community Hospital and Vale Drive Primary Care Centre.
This specialised service offers support and advice on sex, relationships and pregnancy to people in the Borough who are aged over 16 and may find it difficult to attend a clinic and discuss their sexual health needs or concerns in a regular appointment.
The service also offers free condoms and contraception and tests and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.
To find out more visit the sexual health website or see the Bridge easy read service leaflet (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Contraception
Emergency hormonal contraception (EHC)
Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy following unprotected sex, incorrect use of contraception (e.g. a missed pill) or contraceptive failure (e.g. a condom has split). There are two types:
- The emergency contraceptive pill (often referred to as 'the morning after pill') - Levonelle or ellaOne.
- The IUD (also referred to as the copper coil).
In addition to the CNWL in-clinic Emergency Hormonal Contraception, Barnet Council has commissioned secondary Emergency Hormonal Contraception services from community pharmacy providers in Barnet.
The service launch date was 17 August 2020.
Women below the age of 25 years in Barnet, now have access to the below commissioned Barnet EHC service activity:
- consultations
- Levonorgesterel (POM) supplied
- Ulipristal acetate (POM) supplied
- Levonelle (P) supplied
- EllaOne (P) supplied.
CNWL, on behalf of Barnet Council have sub-contracted the following 15 Community Pharmacies for delivery of the new Barnet EHC service.
For more information about the different types of contraception, including emergency contraception, please see the FPA website contraception page
Long acting reversible contraception
Some GPs in Barnet offer long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), such as implants, injections, intrauterine devices (IUD) and intrauterine systems (IUS). Contact your GP to find out about the contraception they offer.
Free online testing for HIV and STIs
Barnet residents aged 16 and over who think they may be at risk of HIV or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can visit the Sexual Health London website to see if they qualify for a free home STI testing kit. Fill in some basic details to assess your eligibility and follow the instructions to receive your kit.
The service provides testing for a range of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C via samples you can collect at home.
How to access sexual health testing remotely (PDF 0.8mb)
Psychosexual and psychology services
Barnet residents can access psychosexual services as part of CNWL’s specialist services in Camden (at the Mortimer Market Centre) and Islington (at the Archway Centre).
You will need to book an appointment to be seen by a health professional who will then assess your eligibility and make an internal referral to the CNWL Psychosexual/ Psychology service, if appropriate. CNWL no longer accept direct referrals into this service.
You can access the CNWL Sexual Problems Assessment and Treatment Services (SPATS) and Sexual Health Psychology services by booking a general sexual health appointment online or calling 020 3317 5252.
Terminating a pregnancy
A termination or abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy. Depending on how many weeks you have been pregnant, the pregnancy is ended either by taking medication or by having a surgical procedure.
If you are considering a termination you can access support via the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service (NUPAS) in Finchley:
Finchley Pregnancy Advisory Service
Finchley Memorial Hospital
Granville Road N12 0JE
Tel: 0333 044 6666
Email: info@nupas.co.uk
They provide the following services:
- abortion information and consultation
- early medical abortion (abortion pill)
- free pregnancy testing
- full contraception service
- free walk-in chlamydia testing for Under 25s.
For more information about terminating a pregnancy go to:
National sexual health helpline
If you would like to talk to someone about a sexual health problem call free on 0300 123 7123 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 8pm. All calls are confidential and will be treated sensitively.
Individuals will be referred to services if required and a nurse-led service is available.
Sexual health useful links
The following websites provide further helpful information and advice: