The Department of Health and Community Services today refuted claims sexual health services in Alice Springs had been cut back.
Chief Health Officer, Dr Steven Skov said Clinic 34 in Alice Springs is open full-time for business and is complemented by a range of sexual health services provided by Health Department and community run general health centres and general practices across Central Australia.
"The service has not been cut to 9 hours a week - an appointment system is in place for those 9 hours - the service is a 5 day a week full-time service providing a drop-in service for hours outside the appointment times.
"A range of extra services and investment is being rolled-out in Central Australia to tackle STIs that will see almost an extra $1m spent over two years to tackle STIs in Central Australia.
"While Clinic 34 provides a shop-front service in Alice Springs, many people present for sexual health treatments and screening across all our primary health centres in both town and remote communities, and to community-run health centres and GPs.
"This is why we have invested resources in the primary health care setting to support those services through training and resources to provide comprehensive sexual health programs where people choose to access them," Dr Skov said.
"The Health Department has also partnered with a range of organisations such as Central Australian Aboriginal Congress who were provided $188,000 this year to fund extra health staff and coordinate a comprehensive sexual health program in urban Alice Springs.
"The partnership program is improving access to sexual health care including providing an annual STI/HIV screening program in Alice Springs and the town camps.
"Additionally, the Department is investing in a new presumptive treatment trial in a number of Central Australian Aboriginal communities to provide immediate treatment for clients who are at higher risk of having an STI as a way to tackle STI levels in the region," Dr Skov said.
Clinic 34 provides a business hours service 5 days per week where nurses are available to undertake screening tests and provide sexual health care for most of the common problems that clients face. The clinic is structured to allow for drop in clients to be seen at any time during the day.
There are also allocated times for more formal appointments over three hours, three times per week where a doctor is available. This flexible approach allows for the Clinic to be responsive to clients who prefer to drop in but also have dedicated appointment times for more complicated cases or those who prefer to make formal appointments. Specialists in HIV and Hepatitis B and C also provide regular visits.
Media contact: Sonia Peters 0401 119 55
Release date: 7 April 2008
