Access to STI screening in Powys is about to get easier.
STI home testing is a convenient
and discrete way of testing for sexually transmitted infections. Current test
at home kits involve testing at home and getting the results at home. Proposed
changes to STI home testing means that the test will still be taken in the
privacy of your own home then sent to a lab for analysis. The results will then
come from the PTHB with help and support on hand if required.
Trial Period
Hywel Dda health board began
trials of TaP (Test and Post) in 2018.
TaP can be used to test for the two most commonly contracted STIs Chlamydia and
Gonorrhoea. Test kits can be ordered via the website www.friskywales.org There’s an easy to
find Testand Post page with details of the service. To receive a kit through the
post you have to follow a simple link to answer a straightforward questionnaire
with the option of answering in Welsh or in English. The questions help the
selection process and also help to support people under the age of 16 and
victims of domestic abuse who are then signposted to appropriate support.
Findings
By the end of Year 1 Hywel Dda
had had 2000 responses with a 91% completion rate. The test results for
Chlamydia were surprising with results coming back as 7.7 % positive with the
national normal range for Wales at 4.6 % The majority of tests were from women
at 85% with 15% returned from men. The majority of tests returned were in the
16-24 and 25-34 age ranges. The two most popular reasons for using the service
were lack of time to go to a clinic and being too embarrassed to see someone in
person.
Proposals
Welsh Government are considering the
option of widening initial pilot to include Powys and Betsi Cadwalladr University
Health Board. As of February 2020 PTHB have 50 trial test kits. There is a need
to ensure that testing is supported by services in Powys and BCHUB and that
effective pathways are in place. The anticipated number of requests for Powys
in Year 1 is 1000. This would benefit Powys residents as current cross border
services aren’t accessible to Powys residents. The aim is to be able to offer
STI services in Powys rather than pay for an out of county provision. Current
reasons for visiting out of county sexual health services are routine testing,
contraception, IUDs, contraceptive implants and treatment for HPV and
genital warts.
What Next?
Feedback from the Hywel Dda pilot
has been positive,
“A very easy to use comprehensive
service.”
“This service is so much easier than waiting for hours at a clinic
and is exactly what is needed in Wales. It allows people who struggle to find
time in their working day to visit a clinic the opportunity to get a peace of
mind in a quick and easy way,”
The PTHB are hoping to roll out
the Test and Post service later this year in Powys.
We’ll keep you posted about all
developments in the meantime!
