Chlamydia Screening Kits in Community Pharmacies

27/06/2008

Community Pharmacies in Gloucestershire are helping with the fight against Chlamydia by giving people access to screening and treatment through a new scheme, introduced on 1 July.

Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust has agreed with eight community pharmacies to allow people under the age of 25 to pick up a Chlamydia screening kit at the dispensary counter. This makes the screening kit far more accessible and takes away the need to book an appointment.

The kit contains a simple and painless test for Chlamydia that people can do themselves. The test is then posted back in the envelope.

Pharmacies will also be able to provide single dose treatment for anyone found to be positive, giving easier access to treatment.

Director of Public Health, Dr Shona Arora, said: “Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It can have some serious long term complications, such as infertility, if untreated. By working with our community pharmacies we are able to help people who may not want to make an appointment still have easy access to testing.”

Of those tested for Chlamydia, one in ten has the infection. It can be successfully treated with a single dose of antibiotics.

Results from screening tests sent to the Chlamydia Screening Office are given within two weeks. People can choose to receive these results by text, phone call, letter or email. If necessary, convenient locations for treatment can then be discussed.

Providing screening in pharmacies is a new addition to the 'Best to Test' initiative running across the county, which already offers screening in a number of locations including all contraception clinics, the University of Gloucestershire, and youth services.

The pharmacies taking part in this scheme are:

Boots Pharmacy, High Street, Cheltenham
Boots Pharmacy, Tewkesbury
Boots Pharmacy, Cirencester
Lloyds Pharmacy, Bell Walk, Gloucester
Day Lewis, Newent
Day Lewis, Sedbury
Superdrug, Stroud
Badhams Pharmacy, Morley Avenue, Churchdown.

For further information and advice about Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections contact the Chlamydia Screening Office on 08454 226202 or see www.sexhelpglos.nhs.uk