ISSUE 2
NOVEMBER 2008
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ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER 2008 |
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Welcome to the second issue of 4YP Bristol Update which aims to give you the latest information on what’s happening with sexual health for young people in Bristol. It includes features on training, resources, services and events, and we hope that it is of interest to anyone working with young people in the city.
Since the last issue we have had a visit from the Department of Health Teenage Pregnancy National Support Team. They visit areas that are struggling to meet their teenage pregnancy targets. The team interviewed a number of key people and have come up with priorities for action. One of the most important outcomes has been the development of a strong leadership group, chaired by Heather Tomlinson, the director of children's services. We also are in the process of appointing a communications coordinator who will develop campaigns to help reduce teenage pregnancy and improve awareness of services to support young people.
The newsletter is only available electronically so please forward this to any colleagues who you think might be interested. And if you didn’t receive your own copy, but would like to be included on the mailing list for future issues then send your name and email address to: Carole.Roberts@bristolpct.nhs.uk.
We would love to hear from you if you have any articles for the next issue of 4YP Bristol Update. Please email: Annette.Billing@bristolpct.nhs.uk
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The government has announced that Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), which includes Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), is to become a statutory subject in all schools across the country. The move has been welcomed by many young people, teachers and parents, who have repeatedly called for help to talk about this subject. The government's response accepts that local authorities and PCTs should recognise the unique role that school nurses and youth workers can play in relation to SRE.
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GP PRACTICES SIGN UP TO '4YP BRISTOL' BADGE Fourteen GP practices across the city are now badged “4YP Bristol” – and several more are working towards it. The idea is for young people to feel more confident in accessing the wide range of sexual health services available at their local practice. For example, young people can go to a 4YP practice for pregnancy testing, condoms, sexually transmitted infections, emergency 'after sex' contraception and general relationship issues. The 4YP badge is there to reassure them that their visit is confidential and that they won't be judged . What's more, young people don't need to book an appointment, they can just drop in during the normal opening times.
Check the 4YP website for an up to date list of 4YP practices.
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OPEN ACCESS TO NHS ABORTION CARE Many women, and even some healthcare professionals (HCPs), are not aware that Bristol has an open-access abortion service known as the "Pregnancy Advisory Service" (PAS). This means that women do NOT need to get referred from a GP or other HCP, but can contact the service themselves for an appointment. This has the tremendous potential to avoid delays and increase access to an earlier and safer procedure where abortion is her choice. PAS is happy to see any woman who is considering abortion and will give information and support where she is uncertain of her choices.
Open-access services are recognised by the National Sexual Health Strategy as an important way of improving care. By avoiding delay they increase the percentage of abortions that can be done earlier and hence with fewer risks. Although any abortion is medically much safer than a full-term pregnancy and delivery, it is also true that for every additional week of gestation at the time of an abortion, the risk of complications increases, so “the earlier - the better” is always the case, once the woman has made her decision. An appointment can be made by the woman herself by calling 0117 927 6362.
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The staff team has also been expanding, with new recruits such as Julia Nibloe, who is the new outreach manager for youth work and Anne Marie Hilborne who has started as a youth worker to lead on sex and relationships education for vulnerable young people. Paul Jefferson is leading on work with boys and young men. They are currently recruiting for a sexual health nurse to develop one to one work with vulnerable young people, a clinic youth worker and counsellor, and a nurse manager for the outreach team. Full details of these posts are available on the NHS jobs website
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4YP BRISTOL CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN
More information on the campaign will follow shortly, and if you would like to come along on the 5th December then make sure you save the date in your diary!
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WORLD AIDS DAY: DECEMBER 1st 2008
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POSITIVE VOICES: FREE HIV/AIDS TALKS FOR SCHOOLS Would you like to mark World AIDS Day this year with a visit from Terrence Higgins Trust, Bristol’s HIV charity? Terence Higgins Trust is inviting all schools and colleges across Bristol to host a one hour talk on HIV/AIDS to pupils and teachers. Their initiative 'Positive Voices' is about leadership in prevention messages and provides an opportunity for pupils to hear and ask questions to someone living with HIV. The one hour session also provides basic HIV awareness information, including how HIV is transmitted and the pros and cons of taking an HIV test.
To find out more and to book your session, please contact Simon Nelson on 0117 955 1000 or email simon.nelson@tht.org.uk.
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SURVEY SHOWS PUPILS KNOW WHERE TO GET FREE CONDOMS & WHERE TO GO FOR LOCAL SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES A survey to collect reliable information about young people's lifestyles has recently been completed with Bristol primary and secondary schools. The survey was commissioned from the schools health education unit by the healthy schools team and Bristol PCT. One of the questions asked if they believed there was a specialist sexual health service locally for young people, and another asked if they knew where they could get free condoms. Overall the results for ages 12-15 showed that 73% knew where to get free condoms and 36% knew about a local service. This was higher than the reference group of 42% and 26%.
It indicates that the message is getting out but there is still a lot more that can be done.
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BRISTOL STARTS VACCINATING GIRLS TO PROTECT AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER A new vaccination that provides protection from cervical cancer is being offered to thousands of girls in Bristol. Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) and it is the second most common cancer of women worldwide. Around 1,000 women die of cervical cancer in the UK each year.
The HPV vaccine is being routinely offered to all girls aged between 12 and 13; and to all girls younger than 18 as a catch-up campaign. The vaccination is primarily a school-based programme for all the girls in year 8 (aged 12-13) and year 13 (aged 17-18). Girls in both age groups that miss out on the school vaccination should contact their GP to arrange when and where they can get vaccinated.
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A NEW VISION FOR SEX & RELATIONSHIPS TRAINING
Mandy believes that training is not just be a vehicle to learn new skills and gain new knowledge from the trainer. It should also be a valuable opportunity to meet and build relationships with other practitioners, sharing good practice and supporting each other through the inevitable changes and challenges we face in our work.
For details of the current courses on offer to professionals working with young people in Bristol visit www.4ypbristol.co.uk. The website describes each course in detail and also includes an online application form. All courses are free. If you are unable to access the website contact Carole Roberts on 0117 900 2424 or email Carole.Roberts@bristolpct.nhs.uk.
Additional course from fpa Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Sexual Health fpa is delivering a pilot training course in Bristol on 9 March 2009. The good news is that the training is free because it is a pilot. See the fpa website for more details.
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WARNING: SMOKING IS NOT SEXY! More than 80% of smokers take up the habit as teenagers. For those working with young people, a good way to raise the issue can be to talk about the damaging effects of smoking on their overall attractiveness. There are many physical effects of smoking that happen no matter how old you are, including:
The Bristol NHS Stop Smoking Service is here to help young people give up smoking. For further information and advice call 0117 959 5465 or visit www.bristolsmokingadviceservice.nhs.uk
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Young people can identify these practices by the
4YP sticker displayed in the window. This means that when a young
person visits any of these practices and asks for a 4YP appointment,
a receptionist will give them a card to fill in a few details and
arrange for a conversation with a nurse (usually). The nurse will
have a chat with the young person and will either help them
immediately or discuss how to get the help they need. All 4YP
practices are also C-card condom pick-up points.
The
Brook 4YP Outreach team, which provide sexual health services in schools
and colleges in Bristol, have continued to have a wonderful year.
They have recently been nominated for a national award for
innovations in sexual health from the Nursing Times. 
National
statistics show that December and January are peak months for
under 18 conception rates. To tackle this we are planning a
publicity boost over Christmas and would really appreciate your
involvement. As part of the campaign we are putting together
resource packs of new local and national materials and we would
welcome your help in displaying and distributing them. The aim is to
raise awareness among young people of the increased risk of
unprotected sex over Christmas and to let them know where to go
for local contraceptive and sexual health advice. 
We are also
planning a 4YP Bristol Christmas party for all those working
with young people on sex and relationships issues. 
Over 80,000
people in the UK are now living with HIV and 2007 saw the highest
number of people diagnosed with HIV ever recorded in a single year. That’s why
it is more important than ever to increase public awareness and
understanding of HIV, how it is transmitted and the prejudice
surrounding it. The theme for this World AIDS Day is “Respect &
Protect”, and encourages us to think about the part we can play in:
If you would
like to do something to mark World AIDS Day then visit
Mandy
Parry has joined the PCT as the lead trainer for sex and r