Services
All direct-access services at Chalmers and Local Sexual Health Clinics are now accessed initially by telephone or online booking. Please do not send patients to queue at Chalmers for a walk-in service.
Patients can be directed to the Chalmers Centre website for information and can self-refer for many services.
Some specialist services require referral from a health care practitioner: Gynaecology, Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS), Menopause and Psychosexual clinics, the Gender Identify Clinic, complex IUD and deep Implant removal, and complex GUM referrals (including recurrent or persistent vaginal discharge, treatment resistant genital warts and genital skin problems), all require GP referral.
Patients can be directed to the Chalmers Centre for information and can self-refer for many services.
Some specialist services require referral from a health care practitioner: medical and adolescent gynaecology, Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS), menopause and psychosexual clinics, the Gender Identify Clinic, complex IUD and deep implant removal, and complex GUM referrals (including recurrent or persistent vaginal discharge, treatment resistant genital warts and genital skin problems).
Services offered at Chalmers include:
- Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and treatment
- HIV testing and management
- Services for men-who-have sex-with men (MSM)
- PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV) and PEPSE (Post-exposure)
- Sexual Assault – with the first line service provider being SARCS
- All methods of contraception – advice and supply including fitting and removal of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), and deep implant removal
- Pregnancy – testing, counselling and referral for abortion
- Abortion Services – women can self-refer for abortion – Choices.
- Medical Gynaecology
- Colposcopy
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Menopause
- Psychosexual Problems (including Erectile Dysfunction of psychological origin)
- Gender Identity Clinic
- Vasectomy Services
- Young People 18yrs and under (Healthy Respect +)
- WISHES service for women with high and complex needs (including Female Genital Mutilation)
- Genital skin problems – excluding possible cancers.
Note: Infertility Services are based at the Edinburgh Fertility Centre at the new Royal infirmary.
Chalmers Sexual Health Service
2a Chalmers Street
Edinburgh
EH3 9ES
0131 536 1070
Condom Supplies in General Practice
Free condoms are available to all GP practices in Lothian.
Practices can apply to become a c:card provider and issue supplies at their reception desks.
GP practices can apply for a smaller supply for clinicians to issue during consultations. For further details or to apply, contact Mark Baillie on internal email. Patients can also apply online for free condoms delivered by post – see website for details
Who to refer:
Individuals:
- with diagnoses of HIV, syphilis or gonorrhoea
- with genital warts resistant to first line topical treatment, recurrent or persistent vaginal discharge or chronic genital symptoms
- who require HIV PEP or PrEP
- who request Vasectomy
- with complex contraceptive problems
- who require Medical Gynaecology , Menopause or Premenstrual Syndrome management
- who request termination of pregnancy (women can self-refer for abortion)
- who request IUD/S or contraceptive implant insertion or implant removal where this cannot be provided locally and they are not able to manage the online booking system
- who have been sexually assaulted
- who have concerns about their gender
Who not to refer:
Individuals:
- without symptoms who require tests for STI and HIV. (GPs can now offer a full set of STI tests by means of Dual NAAT Testing for Gonococcus and Chlamydia and serological tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis: the STI screen on GPOC / ICE supports and simplifies the testing process.) Chalmers DOES offer routine testing for those without symptoms (in the form of Home Sampling Kits which can be posted or collected at Chalmers) but testing in general practice is encouraged where possible.
- who require STI/BBV testing or Hepatitis vaccination for employment or visa purposes (Refer to a private provider)
- who request IUD/S removal alone (this can be performed by any doctor. Practice nurses with training can undertake removal, too).
- diagnosed with hepatitis B or hepatitis C (refer Hepatology or ID)
- with a new presentation of genital warts or uncomplicated Chlamydia.
- who require supplies of PrEP or PEP for potential occupational exposure (eg medical student electives) – refer to the Travel Clinic at the Regional Infectious diseases unit
- with urinary tract infection, urinary flow or prostatic symptoms (urology)
- well established with an effective method of contraception who require a routine repeat supply.
- who require a routine cervical smear
- who require investigation of sub fertility
How to refer:
The service offers a number of referral routes including self-referral by phone or online booking for phone back consultations. All referrals to our service, including SCI gateway referrals are triaged.
Patients can be directed to Lothian’s Sexual Health website for information and can self-refer for many services.
The service has a dedicated GP phone line to a triage nurse – 0131 536 1070 and press button ‘9’, for advice or to discuss the best route to appointment for patients with complex or urgent problems. This line is open from 09.00-15:00 Mon – Fri.
The Chalmers email advice line (Clinical Advice, Chalmers: Chalmers.ClinicalAdv@nhs.scot) offers a 48-hour turnaround for clinical queries relating to ANY of our services. This is for use by Health Care Professionals via an NHS email account only. Direct enquiries from public and patients cannot be answered.
Please use SCI Gateway (under Chalmers Sexual Health Centre) for referrals to any of our listed services, other than for urgent problems. In all cases, but especially those who have already had treatment e.g. with antibiotics for a STI, or are complicated in any way, a referral letter is helpful.
SCI gateway referral is essential for patients with chronic, intransigent or complex problems, including those relating to vaginal discharge and warts where an expert opinion is sought.
For urgent problems related to symptoms of STI, emergency contraception, sexual assault or Post Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV please contact Chalmers by telephone or email (see above). People can also self-refer in those circumstances (via telephone or online booking of a telephone appointment)
People without symptoms who request testing for STI and/or BBV (Blood-borne viruses) are directed to our Home Sampling Kit service.
Patients requesting who request IUD/S or contraceptive implant insertion or removal can be signposted to our website where all free appointments are made available for online booking. These are updated on a rolling basis.
Patients can self refer to MSM services and our Local Sexual Health Clinics by phoning on 0131 536 1070 Monday to Friday 09.00 – 15.00. Initially they will be offered a Phone Back appointment.
Patients can self refer to the abortion service (Choices) by phoning Monday to Friday 0131 536 2454 between 09.00 and 15.00
Patients who are already taking PrEP and require a follow up appointment, or who require an appointment to discuss starting PrEP can call 0131 536 1138. There is a waiting list for PrEP assessment appointments.
