Sexual health clinic staff ‘constantly fight’ to break stigma

Medical professionals face a ‘constant battle’ to reduce the stigma surrounding sexual health.

Earlier this month, the new Manx Integrated Sexual Health Center moved to a new home on Kensington Road, in Douglas, to meet the ‘ever-growing’ demands on the service.

The service was previously based at Noble’s Hospital.

It is now described as a ‘one-stop shop’ for contraception, testing and the management and treatment of all sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

With more consultation rooms and a laboratory on site, MISH staff say it is an improvement over the former facility and will lead to better access for patients seeking assessment.

There are even discreet service hatches between the clinic toilets and the laboratory, making it easier for patients to hand over samples.

Another media outlet on the island recently came under criticism for the way it reported the move, after initially choosing to use what some people saw as an inappropriate headline.

Head nurse Amanda Dawson told Manx Radio that people should ‘never be afraid’ to make an appointment: