Find a Clinic
We can help you find a free contraception or sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment clinic.
Sexual and reproductive health, and other health services, are open
– though they are temporarily reducing their face-to-face appointments and may only be able to see emergency or urgent cases in person. This is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection and to free up staff, so they can work elsewhere in the NHS to support the COVID-19 response.
So, it’s best to call services first - you may need to wait to be answered, and you may need to try more than once. You can access services through:
- Your local sexual and reproductive health service – use the council finder to find your council’s website and search on that for sexual and reproductive health services (if you have a district as well as a county council, your county council will have the details of local sexual and reproductive services).
- Sexual health service finder on NHS.UK
- Your GP
- Your local pharmacy
- For urgent issues - call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk
- In an emergency – call 999 or visit your local accident and emergency (A&E) service
Maintaining good sexual and reproductive health during COVID-19
Sex and intimate contact are risks for spreading COVID-19. Government advice on social distancing measures means we should not be meeting other people we don’t already live with - even friends or family. This means that people should only have sexual contact if they live in the same household as their sexual partner. All sexual contact must be consensual. You should keep your distance from people not in your household (2 metres apart where possible)
For further information visit:
- National sexual health helpline - 0300 123 7123. Your call will be treated with sensitivity and in strict confidence. The Sexual Health Helpline is open from 9am-8pm Monday to Friday and 11am-4pm on weekends.
- NHS.UK
- Terrence Higgins Trust (for sexual health and HIV)
- Sexwise
- Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare: Advice for women seeking contraception, abortion and other sexual and reproductive healthcare
- Contraception Choices
- The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV
- British HIV Association
For information specifically for young people please visit Brook
A range of resources supporting SRH professionals during the pandemic, in particular those working in telemedicine, are available:
- Triage integration considerations to prioritise vulnerable groups
- Homeworking considerations: protecting governance, stability and staff wellbeing
- Resource directory for telehealth services
- Designing triage to prioritise vulnerable groups
- Call handling tips for maximising risk identification
You may also want to visit the FSRH Covid resources page
Addressing inequalities in access to SRH support during Covid-19.
The following messaging for partner agencies has been developed by the Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV team in Public Health England, in collaboration with stakeholders. It has been sent to LA Sexual Health Commissioners, by PHE Sexual Health Facilitators, to share with partner agencies who are in touch with vulnerable individuals. Examples of services include Drug and Alcohol, Looked after Children and Care Leavers, Children and Young People/0-19s/School Nursing, Early Help, Youth Services, School Inclusion, NEET, Mental Health, Youth Offending Teams, Housing and Supporting People, Children and Adult Safeguarding Boards, Police, Food Banks, homelessness organisations, organisations that work with migrants and asylum seekers, learning disability services and VCS and other organisations relevant to the local population.
Sexual and reproductive health support for vulnerable individuals and communities during COVID-19
As your service supports some of our more vulnerable individuals and communities, we wanted to let you know that our sexual and reproductive health services are open. They have reduced their face to face appointments to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection but they will be able to triage and consult by phone and, where needed, see urgent, priority or vulnerable clients in person. They may also be able to post out or arrange for collection of sexually transmitted infection test kits and/or contraception (pills, condoms).
General practice remains open to provide contraception, including emergency contraception, using triage and telephone consultation with face to face appointments when necessary.
As with all services Phone First.
Details of our local service offer are here: Local areas can insert service details and/or link to local website information, including young people specific services or advice.
Information for the public on what to do about contraception, emergency contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and sexual assault during Covid-19 is on Sexwise. This includes links to other organisations providing information and support.
To help ensure any sexual or reproductive health needs are identified, we recommend practitioners in your service proactively offer support to clients following the MECC approach of Ask, Assist, Act.
Ask: Do you need any help with contraception, emergency contraception, pregnancy support or sexually transmitted infections?
Assist: You can find more information on Sexwise and these are the local services or GP you can make contact with.
Act: Find the nearest relevant service or the client’s GP, and help the client make an appointment. As some service users may not have access to a private phone for a telephone consultation, if you are able to make one available safely, this would be very helpful.
[Optional for local areas: If you have any questions or concerns about SRH support please contact… insert local contact ]
As you are aware, Covid 19 and the lockdown has caused additional economic hardship and stress for many. Please refer people in need to local authority support services (local website and phone number to be inserted)
This messaging for partner agencies has been developed the Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV team in The Department of Health and Social Care, in collaboration with stakeholders.
May 2020
Sexwise is part of The Department of Health and Social Care's programme to promote sexual and reproductive health information across England.
Offering inclusive, evidence-based information on contraception, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and sexual pleasure and wellbeing.
Our aims
- Increase awareness and understanding of the full range of contraceptive options, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
- Promote accurate impartial information on pregnancy choices.
- Promote pregnancy planning to give both mother and baby the best start in life.
- Promote self-esteem and improved sexual health wellbeing to contribute towards an open and honest culture.
- Increase understanding and awareness of sexually transmitted infections.
- Promote safer sex messages with an emphasis on consistent condom use.
- Increase awareness of services and support (local and national services).