PACE service relaunches for young people

Sefton Sexual Health Service has relaunched its PACE clinics across the borough, which are specifically designed for young people aged 19 and under.

PACE clinics offer the same service as all other clinics, but young people can attend knowing that these dedicated sessions will only be for them.

Teens can attend to pick up free condoms or other contraceptives, or for sexual health screening.  The service is completely confidential and free to use.

PACE clinics are available at all Sefton Sexual Health clinics: Southport Centre for Health and Well-being, Maghull Health Centre and Netherton Health Centre, in addition to the new Bootle clinic at St Hugh’s.

Sefton Sexual Health recently opened its new clinic in Bootle thanks to a £260,000 investment by Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.  Located on the fifth floor of St Hugh’s House in Stanley Road, it incorporates PACE alongside all age, adult clinics.

A new website www.seftonsexualhealth.nhs.uk includes features that help users quickly find the service they need, and even order online STI testing kits to be used at home.

Matron Wendy Hicks and Service Manager Lynne Hindle said: “PACE is a dedicated service for younger people who may be nervous about coming along to a clinic; this is a new experience and can cause anxieties.  We want to make it as easy as possible and reduce barriers for all young people attending our services.

“PACE has been relaunched after nearly three years of absence in Bootle.  The service has a 30 year history, has been used by almost three generations of the local community.  We have brought it back to meet patient demand, it was missed by the local community and we hope that it now becomes a well-used service for more generations to come.”