Your questions and what things mean

Yes, you can access our FREE online services such as our Online STI testing service that offers screening for HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea. To access this service however you have to be asymptomatic (have no symptoms). To order your home testing kit please Click Here  Once you have registered via the link, we will post this out to you in discreet packaging. Full instructions are included with your kits to help assist in completing the test. You can also order FREE Condom kits to your home, please Click Here to order.  Once you have registered and completed the online forms, we will post these out to you. Both the STI Testing & Condom Packs will be delivered to you within 1 week of ordering.

If English isn’t your first language, don’t worry we can support you. We work alongside a range of local interpreting services supporting all languages that can assist in your consultation and sexual health care. Please let us know in advance when booking your appointment if you need an interpreter, we can arrange this for you. Just give us a call to book your appointment on 0191 4028168.

Usually no, but sometimes if we are worried about you, we might need to share information with other health professionals to keep you safe. We will discuss this with you first. We do not routinely inform your GP about your attendance. However, if they have formally referred you to us with a letter, we will respond in writing. If a safeguarding review has occurred and identified a concern, we may share this concern with your GP or Consultant as lessons learnt have demonstrated this to be best practice.

All our services are confidential, which means we will not share your details or tell anybody about your visit, irrespective of your age.

Without your permission we will not:

• write to your GP about the care/treatment you have received
• refer you to other specialist services
• share your information

The only time we may need to discuss you or any of your test results with a GP or healthcare professional is if we are unable to contact you by your chosen method of communication or feel there is harm to you or somebody else. This is to help protect your health

Emergency contraception (EHC) is also known as the ‘morning after pill’, there are two types of emergency contraception available:

• Levonorgestrel - must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex
• EllaOne - must be taken within 120 hours of unprotected sex

Our partner pharmacies across South Tyneside provide FREE emergency contraception. It’s always advisable to call in advance to check they have a suitable pharmacist on duty who can administer emergency contraception.  Click Here to see the locations. 

Your own GP can also provide you with emergency contraception by prescription, as can most NHS walk in centres.

The IUD (copper coil) can also be used as a method of emergency contraception but is not suitable for everyone.  Please contact our us for more information on 0191 4028168.

STI’s will not show up in a test immediately after being in contact with someone that has one.  If you have had unprotected sex in the last few days, we are happy to test you, but we always advise a retest 1 - 2 weeks later in case any infection has developed.

If you have any symptoms, concerns or would like some general advice , just give us a call as soon as possible on 0191 4028168.

Your test results will be sent to you via SMS unless you agree with the doctor or nurse that you will be contacted in another way.  Text, telephone call or letter. Texting is the most popular method of contact, as it’s easy and quick.

If your tests show infection, we may text you to ask you to contact the clinic.  If you have not heard from us within 7-10 days, then we advise that you contact us on 0191 4028168.

It depends on whether you are in a long-term relationship and whether you think you may have been in contact with an STI.

Some people have a check-up once a year for their own peace of mind if in a long-term relationship. Other people will have a check-up together with a new sexual partner when they enter a new relationship. We recommend screening annually in long term relationships, starting a new relationship or a change of partner. Any concerns you have please just give us a call on 0191 4028168.

When you call our service, you will be asked to provide for your name, address, preferred contact details, and some optional personal questions. Some patients are reluctant to provide us with their correct details.

We advise that you provide these details as we often need them to book you investigations (eg ultrasound scans), refer you to another hospital specialist or contact you to inform you that you have an infection.
We appreciate that sexual health is a sensitive topic and this is why South Tyneside Sexual Health are always careful to check which method of contact you would prefer.

The optional questions include things like your ethnicity, and place of birth. These questions are asked on a paper form at the beginning of your visit, and the details are only used to give us a overview of the people coming to the clinic so we can make them the best they can be for the patients who attend. This information will be fully confidential, and you do not need to provide these details if you do not want to.

Yes, all our clinics have disabled access, when you call us just let the team know you require further support, and we will of course accommodate your needs and requests to help you. 

All our services are FREE of charge.  We are an NHS service and provide all services FREE. This includes STI testing, treatments and all forms of contraception.

No, we will not tell your parents or the person who looks after you but if you are under 16 we will ask you who knows you’re coming to the clinic. We will also encourage you to be open with a parent or an adult you can trust. This is so we know that if you have a problem, you have someone to help you. If you are under 16, we need to make sure that you understand the advice and information we are giving you and that you are able to “weigh it up” in your own mind. We will only share information about you if we feel there is a risk of harm to you or someone else, however we would discuss this with you first.