Why do people come to our clinics?

• Contraception - including emergency contraception and condoms
• Cervical smear tests
• Well woman information e.g.Period problems, Pre-menstrual Syndrome, Menopause, Breast Problems
• Pregnancy testing
• Advice about planning a pregnancy
• Counselling and referral for termination of pregnancy
• Sexually transmitted infections- testing, treatment and information
• HIV information & testing
• Hepatitis B testing and vaccination
• Hepatitis C testing and Info
• Sexual problems
• Information/ advice about sexual health issues

All our services are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.
You can ring and make an appointment for yourself. You can download a copy of the Directory of Sexual Health Services in Ayrshire

Clinics specialise in particular areas...

Family planning clinics provide contraception (all methods), emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, pre-pregnancy advice, termination of pregnancy counselling, cervical smears, advice about sexual matters. Family planning clinics also advise on well woman topics e.g. breast self examination, breast problems, pre-menstrual tension, menopause advice.

Young peoples clinics are family planning clinics for people under 20

Menopause clinic - this is a specialist clinic for women wanting advice about menopausal problems and HRT

GU clinics(Genitourinary medicine clinics) these specialise in the screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV information and testing, Hepatitis B vaccination, advice about safer sex etc. They also provide emergency contraception

Sexual Problems clinic - discussion and counselling about sexual problems. You need to be referred to this clinic by your GP or from another sexual health department clinic. Condoms can protect you against sexually transmitted infections ( including HIV ) and pregnancy. Condoms are FREE at all our clinics

For appointments, advice and information, the department can be contacted 9am-5pm Monday to Friday by ringing 01294 323228/6 Clinics can be contacted directly during the time they are running. If you feel that you should be seen urgently, we will try to arrange this.

Emergency Contraception: We'll see you as soon as possible, and its OK to drop in at clinics for this, although you may need to wait to be seen. Emergency contraceptive pills must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex . After this time in IUCD (Coil) can often be used (up to at least 5 days after).

Emergency contraception can be obtained free from:
Family planning clinics
GP surgeries
A&E department at Ayr Hospital (open 24 hours)
most Community Pharmacies
Emergency contraception is also available out of hours via the emergency doctor service (ADOC) by dialling NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.
For over 16's, emergency hormonal contraception can also be purchased over the counter, from community pharmacies.

clinic staff

The clinic staff work as a team to provide the services described above.

The core team consists of doctors and nurses who have qualifications in family planning, assisted by clerical staff who make appointments and organise the casenotes. At some clinics there are:

• health advisors who provide support, advice and information on sexually transmitted infections, and can help contact partners who need to come for tests and treatment
• lab staff who test specimens for infections.

There are two consultants in the department.

All the staff in the clinic work to a strict code of confidentiality and are forbidden to reveal your personal information to anyone else without your permission.

Sometimes we have trainees at the clinics. These are qualified Doctors and Nurses who are working for extra qualifications in family planning and sexual health. You will be asked if you agree to a trainee being present at your consultation. It is your choice, and the service you receive will not be affected whatever your decision.

Almost all clinics have female doctors, but please tell us if it is important to you to see a woman doctor.

Advice & information

The department telephone number is 01294 323228. We may not have someone available to talk to you immediately, but can arrange to call you back or suggest a suitable time to call again.