Health project to extend to prostitutes

Published on Friday 1 April 2011 13:21

A SCHEME which has tackled health inequalities among homeless people in Edinburgh is to extend its remit to help prostitutes.

The Edinburgh Access Practice said it hoped to reach out to sex workers who may be reluctant to seek medical assistance.

The project, a partnership between NHS Lothian and the city council, also works with asylum seekers, ex-prisoners and service veterans.

Staff there specialise in substance abuse and mental health problems, both issues known to affect prostitutes.

GP Dr Digby Thomas will be working on the extended initiative.

He said: "Sex workers are often unregistered or unwilling to go to the doctor for a number of reasons, so we need to develop an outreach primary care service for them on the streets where they work, in collaboration with those agencies already involved.

"We have to start by listening to their issues and forming professional relationships with them.

"That's why our services are helpful for difficult-to-reach patients."