Sex health clinic prescribes name change remedy
A consultation is under way to rename the Lauriston Place clinic
IT is a lesson that, very often, less is more.
NHS Lothian is rethinking the accurate, if rather too conspicuous, naming of the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre, following fears the bold sign was putting off patients.
Complaints from embarrassed users began soon after the £8 million centre opened last June and the sign itself was vandalised at the end of the year.
Now health chiefs say the damage, which saw several letters removed, has provided the opportunity to reconsider the centre’s name. A consultation is under way, paving the way for the new sign outside the centre in Lauriston Place.
Lothians Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale told how she had heard teenagers saying people who went to the clinic were “skanks”.
She said: “If that’s the attitude of people, it cannot be delivering for the young people who perhaps need it most.”
After she raised the issue with NHS Lothian, chief executive James Barbour wrote telling her: “Due to damage sustained as a result of vandalism, an opportunity has arisen to review the name of the clinic on the signage.
“A number of stakeholders are being consulted to decide on the appropriate wording. Chalmers Dental Hospital, situated opposite, will also be consulted, to ensure patients will be able to distinguish clearly between the two services.”
Mr Barbour said the consultation would conclude by the end of next month and the new signs then be put in place.
Ms Dugdale said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the NHS Lothian board to fix this.
“It’s not about being prudish, it’s about not excluding people from being able to access an important service, particularly young people who might be vulnerable when it comes to their own sexual health.
“The only reason it is called Chalmers Sexual Health Clinic is because there is a dental clinic across the road.
“Surely it cannot be beyond the health board to come up with a name that doesn’t involve the words sexual health but people can still find it.
“We need a name that won’t put off people who are nervous about raising some questions about their sexual health.”
Jane Morel, Scotland area manager for the Terrence Higgins Trust, said there was a difficult balancing act between trying to encourage more openness about sexual health and ensuring people were not deterred from seeking help.
She said: “We want the stigma around sexual health clinics to be removed but, at the same time, it is really important there are no barriers to people accessing services.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of – it should be as normal as going to the dentist. We should not be hiding these services in dark alleys, we should be changing the culture.
“It may take a while for attitudes to change and we don’t want people to feel intimidated.”
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Comments
There are 21 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
HighwayChode
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:59 AMA month long consultative process will be undertaken where 700 "key" stakeholders will be invited to have their say. A list of names will be drawn up which will be subject to approval from all 700 key stakeholders over the course of 8 bi-weekly 5 hour status meetings to ensure everyone has the chance to input. They will settle on the name "Chalmer's Health Centre" and the exercise will cost £300'000.
rabmccall
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 07:08 PM#16 aaaaah ok
Leith_1979
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:11 PM"Chalmers Dental Hospital, situated opposite, will also be consulted, to ensure patients will be able to distinguish clearly between the two services" That could be awkward - "Open wide"!!!
A Friend of Fernando Poo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:35 PM#15: "Doctor, I've been wearing this balaclava for a fortnight and the rash still hasn't gone."
Niebiosa tam sa naprawde nieskrzydlowe ludzie tam
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:27 PMWhy question the sanity of the man who wanted to drown his wife in the bath ? Is it because the bath was too small ?
Leamington Lift Bridge
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 04:04 PM"Balaclavers!"
rabmccall
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 02:14 PMI think i will open a stall in Lauriston pl selling Balaclavers
Not Available
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:44 PMThe name describes exactly what it is - sexual health. This also includes family planning as well as all the other things. I can't see what the problem is.
flyinngscott
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:37 PM#8 Comments of all variety should be free, you dont have to agree, or reply. The thought police are not far off, with such a thing as Hate crime. Freedom of speech is too valuable.
A Friend of Fernando Poo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:29 PMThe garages seem to be doing good business. Perhaps they should try "Warts'R'Us".
Elvis
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:28 PMre Claymores edge-don't feed the troll!!The guys a knuckle dragging halfwit!
A Friend of Fernando Poo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:27 PMThey follow numerous HR departments which are too shy to use the word "sex" and replace it with "Gender Health Clinic".
ColMcGillveray
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:25 PMClaymore's edge has "issues" around a lot of subjects. Quite sad really.
nickedinburgh
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:18 PMclaymore's edge displays the moronic and infantile attitudes of the teenagers described in the article. Shouldn't there be some sort of filter on the comment system here to weed out such juvenile idiocy?
flyinngscott
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:15 PM#6 beat me to it. Just. Best to only name the building after its location. Whoever needs to visit can find it that way.
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