ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To define the key factors and constraints in public-private sector collaboration in establishing and delivering a young person's sexual health clinic within an existing commercial establishment. CONSULTATION, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION PHASES: Consultations were held between the Health Promotion Department, family planning and commercial outlets, resulting in the establishment of the UK's first sexual health service within commercial premises. Once the clinic had been operational for 6 months, a single researcher carried out semi-structured interviews with 13 staff representing all levels within the partner organisations. POST-IMPLEMENTATION INTERVIEWS: There was agreement by all interviewees on the objectives of the clinic. The problems encountered during the establishment of the service were with the legislation pertaining to pharmacies and the adverse press coverage of a minority public view of the provision of sexual health services to young people. No respondent identified conflict between the aims of the clinic and the strategic objectives of their organisation. RECOMMENDATIONS: Common aims are imperative for successful interagency working. Wider initial consultations may have helped to identify potential problems and confirm common aims at an earlier stage of the development of the project. The involvement of senior management may also have improved the smooth running of the project.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care Facilities/organization & administration , Delivery of Health Care/methods , Family Planning Services/organization & administration , Adolescent , Adolescent Health Services/organization & administration , Attitude of Health Personnel , Attitude to Health , Humans , Interinstitutional Relations , Interviews as Topic , Private Sector , Public Sector , United KingdomABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the acceptability and accessibility of a sexual health service for young people in a city centre pharmacy. DESIGN: Prospective qualitative survey of clients attending a new sexual health service, including client characteristics and semi-structured interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Clients attending the service between January and May 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Social demographics, reasons for attendance and consultation outcomes for clients together with their views of the service. RESULTS: A total of 98 clients (average of three clients per session) attended from January to May 1999, ranging from 14 to 39 years of age. Clients came from 41 postcode areas of the city (which has over 80 postcode areas) and neighbouring districts, covering all social strata. Only four clients had never been sexually active; 53 clients attended for emergency contraception, with 26 attending for hormonal contraception. A total of 93% of those asked were either satisfied or very satisfied with the opening times. All clients were satisfied or very satisfied with the clinic location. CONCLUSIONS: The setting of a sexual health service for young people in a city centre pharmacy allows access from a wide area. The timing and location of the service were the most commonly quoted reasons for attendance. All clients were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview, unless the interviewer was already engaged; results were obtained for 66 clients (67% of attendees).
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care Facilities/organization & administration , Family Planning Services/organization & administration , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Patient Satisfaction , Adolescent , Adolescent Health Services/organization & administration , Adult , Delivery of Health Care/methods , Female , Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration , Humans , Interinstitutional Relations , Interviews as Topic , Prospective Studies , United KingdomABSTRACT
We report a series of five patients with congenital heart defects in whom a prenatal diagnosis of 22q11 deletion has been made. The accurate cardiac and cytogenetic diagnoses were made between 20 and 23 weeks' gestation in all cases and the cardiac findings were all confirmed postnatally. The cardiac abnormalities included tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve, pulmonary atresia with VSD, common arterial trunk, and left atrial isomerism with double outlet right ventricle. The problems of genetic counselling in these cases are discussed. A recommendation is made to test all fetuses with conotruncal heart abnormalities detected prenatally for a 22q11 deletion, whereas guidelines for other congenital heart disease types are less clear.
Subject(s)
Chromosome Deletion , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 , Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics , Prenatal Diagnosis , Echocardiography , Female , Heart Defects, Congenital/diagnosis , Humans , Myocardium/pathology , Pregnancy , Tetralogy of Fallot/pathology , Ultrasonography, PrenatalABSTRACT
We report on two sibs with facial anomalies and developmental delay. Partial trisomy 2q was detected only after parental chromosome studies showed the father to carry a balanced interchromosomal insertion of 2 (q24.3-q32.1) into 5q.
Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Chromosome Inversion , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2/genetics , Trisomy , Child, Preschool , Ear/abnormalities , Face/abnormalities , Female , Genitalia/abnormalities , Growth Disorders/congenital , Humans , Karyotyping , Kidney/abnormalities , Male , Nose/abnormalitiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Sexual Health Help Centre (SHHC) was opened in 1995 to provide treatment, advice and information on family planning and sexual health issues for young people under the age of 20 years, in a way which is open and non-threatening. This paper describes an evaluation conducted during the first 9 months of service operation. METHODS: Young people's experience of the SHHC were elicited, and compared with their experiences of conventional family planning services in Glasgow. RESULTS: The SHHC has been successful in attracting young people for help with family planning problems and provides a more acceptable environment than conventional family planning services. However, a greater number of young men and young people under the age of 16 should be encouraged to attend the service. CONCLUSION: Young people are more likely to visit family planning services if they are offered a wide range of family planning and sexual health services in a non-judgmental, non-threatening environment.
