‘Health matters’ open session is a guide to family planning

VITAL information about sexual health and contraception will be explored at a free public lecture next week.

The ‘Sexual Health Matters’, talk at Macclesfield Hospital at 7pm on Tuesday, July 7, will take people on a typical patient journey through East Cheshire NHS Trust’s sexual health department and look at how sexual health issues impact on individuals and the community.

The East Cheshire Centre for Sexual Health provides information, contraception and screening, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

The session will also provide useful information on contraception and family planning aimed at people of all ages, including those in long-term relationships.

It will be delivered by Dr Jennifer Heathcote – a clinical doctor in sexual health who has worked at Macclesfield Hospital for 30 years, almost all of them in sexual health and family planning.

Dr Heathcote is also the trust’s general training programme director for sexual health qualifications in Macclesfield, training local GPs, medical students and obstetrics and gynaecology trainees in sexual health.

She said: “Sexual health is important for everyone, at a personal level and for us as a community.

“Most of the population require some form of contraception at some stage in their lives, either to prevent pregnancy or as a barrier to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

“Come and find out what the sexual health service has to offer, find out whether your contraception options are right for you and learn something new that could have a lasting impact on you or a member of your family.”