Crack down on chlamydia - free tests

Plans and preparations for Chlamydia testing  and treatment in community settings such as youth clubs and  community clinics are being developed by Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT as part of the RUClear Chlamydia screening programme in Greater Manchester. This is a national programme.

The PCT is exploring ways in which they can encourage young people to get tested by offering them easy access and an increased opportunity to screening programmes in community settings such as youth clubs rather than simply in health centres and clinics.

For this reason the PCT is offering training to non clinicians so that more and more community based services will be able to offer young people Chlamydia testing. Health Visitors and School nurses across the borough are already able to carry Chlamydia tests.

Research shows one in ten young people has Chlamydia in the UK.
Often there are no symptoms. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection and is the most common preventable cause of infertility in women.

Drop in clinics with a focus on sexual health are operating in Hopwood Hall College from both Rochdale and Middleton campuses. The clinics offer students the opportunity to access free on the spot Chlamydia testing alongside confidential sexual health advice.

The latest technology means that being tested for Chlamydia is easier than it has ever been and the results are known faster.  All it takes is a urine sample and treatment is free and a course of antibiotics in most cases is prescribed.

The new technology means that the tests now longer have to be carried out by nurses in a clinical setting. Between November and January 223 people were tested for Chlamydia in the Borough either at Rochdale Walk in Centre, Health Promotion Unit on Penn St or at Hopwood Hall College

Cath Hayes, Sexual Health Promotion Manager said; “The team are busy working hard to develop and implement an effective Chlamydia Screening Programme across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. The key to successfully meeting our target of 65 screens each week is to offer testing in as many settings as possible. Therefore we are planning to train as many people as possible so that young people have plenty of opportunities to get tested.

I would like to reiterate that Chlamydia is a silent infection where many people do not know they have it until it is too late. The best way to protect yourself is to use condoms and get tested every time you have unprotected sex with a new partner.”

As part of Greater Manchester’s RU Clear? Initiative targeting 15 - 24 year olds, Key 103 street teams will be visiting Rochdale Town Centre on 14 February handing out free condoms and literature on sexual health.