We are open! All of our usual services (except for walk-in clinics which are currently not running), are available either in-person, or via telephone or video link. Care for people with medically urgent problems is available to anyone who needs it. Some services are still restricted because we have to adhere to social distancing guidelines to keep everyone safe. This means that for some non-urgent services, appointment availability is limited or waiting times are longer than normal.
Unrestricted services
Our abortion service (CHOICES), and care for urgent sexual health problems including painful or distressing symptoms, routine testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, advice on urgent contraception problems, PEPSE and HIV care are all available as normal, but your consultation will be by phone. We will arrange for you to come to us to collect treatment, or we will send treatment or tests out to you, or book a face-to-face consultation if required.
We currently have services at the Chalmers Centre, and in our local clinics at Craigmillar, Dalkeith, Pennywell, Sighthill, Tranent and Whitburn. We are working hard to open our other local clinics, including Howden, as soon as possible.
To arrange to speak to a clinician you can book a phone consultation online or call 0131 536 1070 to arrange a phone back appointment. We are always keen to find ways to meet your sexual health needs safely.
The Healthy Respect + clinic at Chalmers (for young people ages 13 to 18) is open on Monday to Friday in the afternoon, with booked appointments only. The HR+ clinic in Croft Street, Dalkeith, is available for young people who live in Midlothian.
Routine check-ups for sexually transmitted infections are now usually done using a Home Sampling Kit. The kit is very simple to use and includes tests for gonorrhoea, Chlamydia (using swab or urine samples) along with blood tests for HIV and syphilis. You can order your kit by phone.
Restricted services
We are providing routine contraception including implant and IUS/IUD removals and insertions. Our appointment availability is slightly less than pre-COVID but we are working to expand capacity.
Implant appointments and IUD appointments can now be booked online and these are face to face appointments at our Chalmers Centre in Edinburgh, with some availability at local clinics for those living nearby. Due to reduced services we only have a limited amount of appointments available. Please read the IUD/IUS information prior to booking, and complete the Self Assessment Form and bring it with you to your appointment.
Remember if you already have an implant, you may not need another one just yet. Current users can keep an implant in place with low risk of problems beyond three years. Some research shows it is unlikely that women will get pregnant with the implant in the 4th year of use. Adding condoms or a progestogen-only pill would provide additional protection.
Routine PrEP follow up appointments are available – if you are already taking PrEP and require a follow up appointment please call 0131 536 1138. You can also find more information about PrEP, and arrange to speak to someone about starting it, here.
All of our other non-urgent services are running, although some have reduced capacity – this includes ROAM, WISHES, HR+ outreach services, the Chalmers Gender Identity Clinic and the Vasectomy service.
Gynaecology, Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS), Menopause, Psychosexual clinics, complex IUD/IUS, deep implant removal and treatment for complex or long term problems such as abnormal vaginal discharge, or genital warts that have not responded to treatment still require a referral from your GP
Please check the links on the website homepage for the status of individual services.