Under 25 year olds living in West Kent and North Kent are being asked to complete a survey to help shape the way sexual health services are delivered in the area they live in the future.

The survey was launched today (Monday 14 September 2020) by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s Sexual Health Services to coincide with Sexual Health Week which runs from Monday 14 to Sunday 20 September 2020.

Sue Jones (pictured), who works for the Trust as an Integrated Sexual Health Nurse at The Rubin Clinic which is based at Maidstone Hospital, said: “Shielding, social distancing measures and visitor restrictions which were imposed due to Covid-19 haven’t made things easy for people to get the help they need when it comes to their sexual health needs.

“However, after making changes to the way we provided sexual health services during the pandemic, we are still able to offer advice on sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and contraception through a mixture of face-to-face appointments, telephone chats, and virtual consultation appointments. Testing kits can even be posted to a patient’s home address if they are comfortable receiving it this way.

“Now we want to know if young people under the age of 25 living in the West and North Kent areas have found the changes useful and if they would like us to continue with the new ways we deliver some of our services. Participants’ input will help shape our services and ensure they reflect what they really want and need from us.”

To help raise awareness of the survey amongst local students, the Sexual Health Team has sent a link to the survey to the Student Services team based at Hadlow College and West Kent College – both based in Tonbridge, as well as Mid Kent College in Maidstone so they can make students aware of it during Freshers’ Week. In addition, the team has also produced a video entitled ‘Sexual Health Matters’ which is tailor made for each college about the sexual health clinics available in the surrounding area or, if applicable, at the college. These will be made available to students via the colleges’ websites.

If you’re under the age of 25 and live in the West Kent or North Kent area, please click here to complete the survey. Or alternatively, click on the following link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FKQVR3L​

The closing date is Sunday 11 October 2020 at 5pm.

For more information about MTW NHS Trust’s Sexual Health Services visit – https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/service/sexual-health-services/

For more information about Sexual Health Week (Monday 14 September to Sunday 20 September 2020) visit https://www.brook.org.uk/shw/