The two years' further funding follows positive feedback from patients using the health and wellbeing service
King's College Hospital's transgender sexual health service will continue to care for Londoners for a further two years, thanks to funding from the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.
In partnership with cliniQ, the service offers a range of health and wellbeing initiatives, including:
- STI testing and treatment
- contraception
- counselling
- cervical screening
- hormone testing
- hormone injection and advice
- sexual assault support
- hate crime support
- housing advice
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
The service also includes a counsellor; a support worker; a nurse and a doctor. Although the focus of the service is sexual health, it has adopted a holistic approach and works with other relevant services such as primary care, mental health services and social services.
The service was the first of its kind when it opened in Camberwell in April 2019, and over the last couple of years, the transgender sexual health service at King's has had a positive impact on many people's lives, giving people easier access to an informed, respectful, dedicated local service in south London.
Following the announcement of the service extension on Trans Day of Visibility, Dr Michael Brady, Consultant Sexual Health and HIV at King's, and National Advisor for LGBT Health at NHS England, said: "Patients using our transgender sexual health service have told us that the care we provide helps people feel safe, respected and, in many cases, it changes peoples' lives. Services like this one, delivered by King's in partnership with cliniQ , provide essential care and support and it's great to see the commitment from our local authority commissioners in continuing to support this vital service."
Michelle Ross, Founder of cliniQ, said: "cliniQ at King's is fundamental in establishing trans and non-binary people's health services in South London and further afield. At cliniQ sexual health and HIV are central to our services as are holistic health and wellbeing. Trans people are disproportionately affected by all health issues - it is cliniQ's reason for beginning to change these inequalities."
The service has received positive feedback from patients and their families. Comments include:
"It makes me feel relief that someone is trying to help trans people. It's so hard to transition, regrettably, and this service makes me feel safer."
"Thank you for making spaces like this where people can be seen and considered for their experiences and not just viewed and regarded as bodies."
"I am reassured that the care is there for my trans son."
