Sexual & Reproductive Health

Tayside Sexual and Reproductive Health Services are based at:
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
Drumhar Health Centre, Perth
Clinical Service Lead – Dr Ciara Cunningham
Senior Charge Nurse – Rosalyn O'Brien

• The Dundee clinic operates Monday-Friday (9-5pm) from level 7 South Block, Ninewells Hospital
• The Perth clinic operates Monday-Thursday (9-5pm) from Drumhar Health Centre, North Methven Street, PH1 5PD.
• Patients should either be referred or should arrange an appointment through our telephone triage lines which are open 9-12 Mon-Fri under 01382 425542. 

• Patients can book online for:
  • Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) review appointments
  • Sub-dermal implant appointments if the patient wishes or if not available via patient’s own GP/inter-practice referral
  • Intrauterine contraceptive appointments (passcode enabled) if the patient wishes or if not available via patient’s own GP/inter-practice referral. Patients need to phone telephone triage first to be vetted and given the passcode if appropriate. Patients who need intrauterine contraception as part of HRT or have additionally gynaecological issues like bleeding issues, pelvic pain etc. require a GP referral.

• Patients seeking asymptomatic testing should be directed to our website to order a postal self sampling kit. Samples are pre labelled and are returned via a local GP practice or to the sexual health clinic. We ask patients to return their samples within a 4 week time period. They are transported with the routine collections with no additional requirements and results are provided via SMS.

Patients can phone triage lines directly to arrange the following without a referral: (01382 425542 Mon to Fri 9am – 12pm). Some of these services may also be available directly from their own GP or by inter-practice referral:

• Emergency/urgent care (e.g. likely pelvic inflammatory disease, epididymitis, post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV and HBV after sexual exposure, genital ulcers with severe symptoms, emergency contraception)
• Patients with symptoms suggestive of STIs
• Straight-forward insertions and removals of contraceptive implants and IUD, IUS where the device is used for contraception
• Asymptomatic contacts of patients with proven STI
• New and continuing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Routine asymptomatic sexual health screening for men who have sex with men and trans individuals
• Recent sexual assaults (Patients should be advised to contact the NHS Scotland sexual assault self-referral phone service free of charge on 0800 148 88 88 which is available 24/7).
• Vulnerable individuals who need more routine sexual and reproductive health care (e.g. young people, learning difficulties, people who sell sex, people with drug or alcohol addictions)
   

The following can be referred by a GP or other health professional:

• Complex Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic, including anogenital warts suspicious for dysplasia
• Complex Menopause Clinic (most referrals with be dealt with by giving advice to the HCP rather by an appointment to the clinic )
• Complex SRH clinic (difficulties finding suitable contraception, medical contraindications, drug interaction, side-effects, PMS/PMDD)
• LNG IUD (formerly IUS) insertion or replacement as part of HRT
• Failed insertions or removals of intrauterine contraception (IUC)
• Deep or impalpable implants or failed implant removals
• Sexual Problem Clinic (previously known as Psychosexual Clinic)

Tayside sexual and reproductive health services have changed the way they provide support for Chlamydia (CT) and Gonorrhoea (GC) partner notification. The requesting clinician should treat and advise any patient with CT to inform their sexual contacts. Patients with GC should be recommended to attend TSRH for further testing and treatment where they are willing and able to do this. The linked  pathway  provides guidance and links to CT/GC PILs which can be texted to the patient. If a patient requires support to inform partners, the PIL gives details of who they should contact at SRH.


We do not offer the following services:

• Termination of pregnancy: patients can now self-refer directly into the abortion (termination of pregnancy) service (gynaecology) by phoning 01382 496762 (answer phone)
• Non-complex menopause care. Nonetheless, Complex Menopause Clinic team is happy to give advice about any menopause related patient queries via SCI Gateway. 
• LNG IUD (formerly IUS) insertions or replacements where the device is not needed for contraception, part of PMS/PMDD treatment or as part of HRT (refer to gynaecology).
• Postmenopausal bleeding issues (on or off HRT)- please refer to gynaecology. The Complex Menopause Clinic team is happy to give advice about possible treatment and alternative HRT options.

• Patients can self-refer for certain services as above through the triage line (01382 425542 Mon to Fri 9am – 12pm)
• Electronic Referral via SCI Gateway (preferred) from Primary Care - listed under Genito-Urinary Medicine. Any tab under this section will lead to the same vetting clinician.
• Letter to our department from Secondary Care or other HCP (pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists etc) who do not have access to SCI Gateway
• Third sector agencies and allied secondary care specialties can refer vulnerable patients directly through an agreed fast track pathway (e.g. Family Nurse Partnership, Addiction Services, TOP Service etc) using our department email.

Healthcare professionals only can access advice through alternative routes as follows:

• Via the advice request function on SCI Gateway from Primary Care (preferred as the advice given can be reviewed on Clinical Portal).
• Email advice can be given through our departmental email which is checked a minimum of every 3 working days: Tay.TSRH@nhs.scot. This is mainly for general or non-complex queries, or for healthcare professions who do not have access to the SCI Gateway advice function. Please use the SCI Gateway for specific menopause queries if you have access to the system.
• Routine telephone advice about the service by contacting the departmental telephone line (01382 425542).
• If you are a healthcare professional who needs urgent advice from the consultant on call, please contact the on call telephone line or advise reception staff via the departmental telephone line (01382 425542). Please be aware that the consultant on call might not be able to answer your query directly as the on call phone is answered by either a GUM or a SRH consultant. 

Further information and up-to-date guidance can be found on the NHS Tayside Sexual Health & Blood Borne Viruses external website: https://www.sexualhealthtayside.org/