Consultation on the future plans for sexual health services in Aberdeen

David Cooper
PFPI Officer
Summary
NHS Grampian conducted a series of surveys of young people and adults using sexual health services in Aberdeen in order to find out what they thought of future plans for sexual health services being incorporated into a new city centre health facility. Patients and stakeholder organisations were supportive, but their concerns about privacy have influenced the final design and layout of the building.
Dates
Start Date: 7
End Date: 7
Location
Grampian
Sector
Community care, Primary care
Target groups
Children and young people, Men, Women
Methods Used
Surveys and Questionnaires, Face-to-face interviews, Retrospective review of previous patient surveys
Aims and objectives
We wanted to find out what patients attending sexual health services thought about the future plans for these services. In particular, we wanted to gather feedback on proposals to bring together Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) and Sexual & Reproductive Health services as part of a new health facility in Aberdeen.

We also wanted to gather the views of organisations who work with young people.
What we did
A survey [attached] was developed in collaboration with key managers at Aberdeen City Community Health Partnership and the consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health. It asked for feedback from patients on the issue of integrating Genitourinary Medicine and Sexual & Reproductive Health services, and their opinions and thoughts on a future location with other health services. The survey was piloted with communication staff and three young people for understanding and clarity.

Surveys were carried out in the City Clinic (Genitourinary Medicine) at Woolmanhill Hospital and Square 13 (Sexual & Reproductive Health) in the centre of Aberdeen. In total, 109 patients at the City Clinic and 119 patients at Square 13 took part.

In addition, a retrospective review was carried out of the data gathered in surveys previous surveys of patients attending sexual health services which were conducted between 2002 and 2007 (2,169 respondents).

Feedback was also gathered from stakeholder organisations which had service users attending both clinics, including NHS Grampian Feedback Service, Aberdeen Cyrenians, Caledonia Youth, School Nurses, various public health/health promotion professionals working with young people, and Aberdeen Cares Diversity Centre. The stakeholders were asked their thoughts on combining GUM and Sexual & Reproductive Health services, and on providing these services in a building with other types of health facilities and services.
Impact
From the surveys, it is clear that the quality of staffing and care is rated highly by patients. However some patients at the City Clinic were concerned about waiting times for appointments and results and the lack of evening or weekend opening. Waiting times, access and capacity were an issue at Square 13. Confidentiality and privacy were a concern at both clinics but particularly at the City Clinic reception area. Ease of access to advice and contraception was of key importance. The Thursday evening and Saturday morning opening at Square 13 were well-liked and popular. The walk-in clinic for over-25s at Square 13 was also well received.

The main points in relation to a future building and environment that emerged from the consultations were:

1) 40% of patients at both clinics expressed either ‘great concern’ or ‘some concern’ about sexual health services sharing a building with other health services, suggesting that a considered design and layout of the Health Village could play a crucial role in facilitating privacy and confidentiality. This concern was shared by 54% of under-16-year-olds.

2) Privacy remains a significant concern. 61% of patients at both City Clinic and Square 13 regarded a separate reception desk for sexual health services as either ‘essential’ or ‘important’ in the new building.

3) The importance of patients having their own waiting area within the Health Village building was regarded as ‘essential’ or ‘important’ by 63% of patients at the City Clinic and 51% at Square 13.

4) The majority of under-16s considered a separate reception desk (69%) and waiting area (62%) for them as ‘essential’ or ‘important’ (under-16s represent approximately 5% and 1% of the clinic populations of Square 13 and the City Clinic respectively).

5) Organisations specialising in work with young people and vulnerable groups expressed concerns about confidentiality if the sexual health service was to be in a shared building.
Evaluation
Feedback from patients and voluntary organisations continues to influence the design and layout of the proposed building. Plans to construct the Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village in a city centre location are underway. The facility will include an integrated sexual health service on the ground floor. It is anticipated that this building will open by 2013/14.

It was found that patients attending sexual health services were more than willing to be involved in the survey. However, this needs to be carried out while they are in the clinics (i.e. in their time, at their convenience, and in relative privacy).

The survey was available in other formats and languages upon request. No requests were made. However with the PFPI Officer being present at the clinic he was available to help one female patient who could not read, one male patient who was deaf, and two East European patients who spoke good English but who did not understand the occasional word in the survey. With the patient group being on the young side, English was widely spoken and understood by East European patients and foreign students attending the two large universities in Aberdeen.

The sexual health service will continue to monitor the quality of the service provided through satisfaction surveys.