A service to address the sexual health needs of the homeless population.

Between 1991 and 2001, the clinical workload of genitourinary medicine services increased by 155 per cent, and diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increased by 61 per cent in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Public Health Laboratory Service et al, 2002). However there is a paucity of data regarding the rate of sexually transmitted infections in the homeless population.

Emergency contraception given via a patient group direction.

The aim of this audit was to evaluate the effectiveness of a patient group direction (PGD) for nurses issuing the emergency contraceptive Levonelle-2 within a sexual health clinic. The PGD was designed to increase the accessibility of emergency contraception for women, not only minimising the time they needed to spend in the clinic, but also reducing the time at which the emergency contraception was taken after unprotected intercourse, which is an important factor in efficacy rates.

The delivery of hepatitis B vaccine.

Hepatitis B is a serious preventable infection that is common in men who have sex with men. Historically, uptake of the vaccine has been poor in this group. Leigh Chislett describes how the introduction of a nurse-led service significantly increased uptake of the vaccine at a London clinic.

Can targeted HIV testing campaigns alter health-seeking behaviour?

This paper describes the evaluation of 'gimme 5 minutes' a multimedia HIV testing campaign aimed at gay and bisexual men in London particularly targeting those of Black and South European Origin and those under the age of 25 years old using peer images. The text linked a summary of the key issues of a pre-test discussion with detailed information on how to access testing at a specified testing centre (campaign clinic). The number and demographics of men who reported sex with men (MSM) testing at the campaign clinic were monitored and compared with those testing at two other central London clinics.