Pharmacists champion sexual health in SE London
Detail from the campaign poster |
Pharmacists across Lambeth and Southwark in south east London are getting involved in educating people about sexual health issues with the launch of “It started with a kiss”, the latest campaign from the Modernisation Initiative (a health-improvement partnership within the district, incorporating hospitals, primary care trusts, health authorities, patient groups and independent organisations, and funded by Guy's and St Thomas' Charity).
Jean Young, pharmacy contract implementation manager for Southwark Primary
Care Trust, is leading the campaign.
She told The Journal that the campaign is designed to raise people’s
awareness and encourage them to ask questions about their sexual health,
and to provide people with information on where to access sexual health
services in their area.
“Sexual health is at the top of a list as a big priority — there
are particular problems in this area of London. The campaign is building
on the work that the Modernisation Initiative is already doing,” she
said.
Pharmacies are being provided with posters and leaflets, and postcards
are being distributed to local public houses and clubs.
Ash Soni, professional executive committee and board member for Lambeth
PCT, was involved in developing and delivering the training programme
for pharmacy staff.
He said: “The two-hour evening training sessions were well attended
and finished a week ago. There was good feedback; pharmacists were pleased
at the level of the training. They already had some knowledge of sexually
transmitted diseases and sexual health services, but for them it was
just a matter of putting the jigsaw together.”
The training provided pharmacists with information on:
- What services to direct patients to and their location
- Signs and symptoms
of different sexually transmitted diseases
- How
to use the resources provided for the campaign
- What treatments
and services might be offered over the counter
- The
types of over-the-counter queries that could be hiding sexual health
issues that need to be resolved
Pharmacy assistants also underwent training, he said, which was less
disease-oriented and was centred around treating patients with respect
and responding in an appropriate manner to sensitive queries.
The launch of the campaign coincides with the fpa’s sexual health
week (7–13 August). |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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