Clean bill of health for NHS Lothian's sexual disease clinic

NHS Lothian's sexual health services have been given the all clear for the second year in a row in a national "mystery shopping" exercise.

Callers claiming to have symptoms of common sexually- transmitted infections were offered appointments to be seen within two days of the initial contact by Lothian's genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic, which is well within the national standard.

The clinic, at Lauriston Place in Edinburgh, was among 21 GUM clinics to be contacted by mystery shoppers.

Dr Anna Glasier, lead clinician, Sexual Health Services, NHS Lothian, said: "Sexual health services need to be accessible and available at short notice. Long waits for help could be hazardous where sexually-transmitted infections are involved, and it is good to see that our service has done well in this test."

NHS Lothian is currently tendering for contractors to work on building Lothian's first integrated sexual health services centre.

The work involves a major extension to an existing building on Chalmers Street, near Lauriston Buildings, and will bring together GUM services with family planning and well women services.