Young people’s views on sexual health services in Haringey
We were recently commissioned by Haringey Council’s public health team to undertake a review of the sexual health services available to young people in Haringey. We engaged with a wide range of young people aged 15 to 24 years old, living, studying or working in Haringey. The findings of the report will inform Haringey Council’s plans for selecting providers of sexual health services for young people.
Our report explores three key themes: awareness, experience, and improvement of sexual health services for young people.
To gather the views of young people, a variety of methods were used, including an online survey, small focus groups, and 1-2-1 interviews (in-person and over the phone). We engaged with a wide range of young people living, studying or working in Haringey, as well as the staff and providers of sexual health services in the borough. We also collaborated with Haringey Council, Haringey Sixth Form College, the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) and other organisations working with, and supporting, young people.
Healthwatch Haringey surveyed 61 young people and met with 21 more over focus groups and interviews. We also visited the two young people’s sexual health clinics and all 23 community pharmacies delivering sexual health services in Haringey.
The report found that four in 10 young people did not know or were unsure about the sexual health services available to them. The most well-known services were the sexual health clinic, the GP and the pharmacy, in that order. However, there was low awareness of online and phone methods of service delivery, which could offer more convenience and privacy.
Furthermore, the report found that the sexual health clinic was the most used and preferred service by young people. They praised the staff for being friendly, helpful, non-judgemental, professional and knowledgeable. However, they also complained about the website, phone line and booking system of the clinic, which they found difficult to use.
In our report, to be published in October 2023, we recommend that more efforts are made to promote and inform young people about the different ways they can access sexual health services, especially online and over the phone. We also suggest that the sexual health clinics improve their website, phone line and booking system to make it easier for young people to use their services.
Our report will be published in Ocober 2023.
