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Article dated: 9 July 2010

Item:
WORKING TOGETHER �PARTNERSHIP AWARD



The Scottish National Sexual Health Strategy �Respect and Responsibility� (2005) recommended that barriers, which limit people�s/groups ability in accessing sexual health services and information, should be addressed. Sexual Health D&G is not unique in its rural environment to face challenges in developing services and providing information to a remote and rural population and wide range of partners. This is a small team, with both clinical and non clinical staff, who not only provide services to their own clients but who are committed to working with partnership agencies to promote positive sexual health and well being to the wider community.



Some of our partners

Sexual Health D&G have chosen an innovative way to meet these challenges to partnership working. The Hard to Reach Working group (HTR) was set up early in 2008 involving a group of practitioners, who have very differing interests, and linked these with vulnerable/ hard to reach groups as identified in Dumfries & Galloway�s Sexual Health Strategy (2007). The working group works closely with Disabilities, Looked after children (LAC), LGBT, Prisons, Ethnic Minorities, Homeless People, Alcohol & Drug Partnership and Women undergoing termination of pregnancy.

Since there is stigma associated with accessing sexual health services one of our aims is to empower agencies and care workers within HTR groups to provide some basic sexual health services e.g. provision of condoms and postal testing kits for Chlamydia in a supported safe environment and signpost to services as required.

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