Highland Sexual Health referral process (Guidelines)

Warning

Audience

  • All NHS Highland
  • Primary Care
  • Adults and Children
Highland Sexual Health (HSH) service is based at Royal Northern Infirmary Community Hospital, Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5SF with weekly or monthly clinics in peripheral locations (Invergordon, Wick, Thurso, Skye and Fort William).
HSH is an integrated service comprising of Genitourinary Medicine, HIV, Sexual & Reproductive Health (including menopause) and Gender Identity Clinic.

Open access (self referral)

  • Patients wishing routine contraception, STI testing or Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP) may refer themselves to the service.
  • Phone 01463 888300 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (excluding public holidays) for an appointment at any of our clinics.
  • Order a Self Sampling Kit (asymptomatic screen) see:  STI Self Test (nashonlinebooking.com)
  • Book some appointments on line see: Welcome to Online Booking for Sexual Health 
  • Young Person Live Chat (under 25s only) available Monday to Friday from 4pm to 6pm (excluding Public Holidays)see: Highland Sexual Health

Who requires a formal referral

  • Partner Notification: referrals can be made via e-mail: nhsh.hsh-healthadvisor@nhs.scot
  • Patients requiring specialist GUM or HIV care including those with complex medical histories or who are pregnant
  • Patients requiring contraception, including LARC, who have complex medical histories (e.g. Hx of VTE, Epilepsy etc.)
  • Teenagers and adults with additional social issues or vulnerabilities
  • Patients requiring specialist menopause care
  • Patients with Gender Incongruence (over 18 years old only)
  • Patients requiring a LNG-IUD (e.g. Mirena) for non-contraceptive reasons such as heavy menstrual bleeding or HRT (please ensure examination and any investigations to exclude pathology have been done prior to referral and please include this information in the referral). See: Menorrhagia (Guidelines)Unscheduled bleeding on HRT (Guidelines).

Who not to refer

  • Women who are having doubts about an ongoing pregnancy can self refer directly to the Social Gynaecology Service by phoning 01463 705667 . See: Termination of pregnancy (Guidelines) 
  • Patients with gender incongruence who are aged under 18 years old should be referred to the Young
  • Persons Gender Identity Clinic, Sandyford Clinic, 2 -6 Sandyford Place, Glasgow G3 7NB
  • Patients with psychosexual problems may be referred directly to Liz Williams, Psychosexual Therapist, New Craigs Hospital, Inverness
  • Patients with vaginismus or other pelvic floor issues may be referred directly to the Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists
  • Patients who require Gynaecology or Urology assessments
  • Postmenopausal Bleeding See: Post-menopausal bleeding and endometrial cancer (Guidelines) 
  • Erectile Dysfunction. See: Erectile Dysfunction (Guidelines) 
  • Infertility. See: Fertility Clinic (Guidelines) 
  • Vasectomy
  • Management of Hepatitis B or C. See: LIVER 
  • Patients who are under age 13 years

How to refer

PLEASE USE SCI GATEWAY

  • There are two referral options:
    • HSH / Sexual and Reproductive Health
    • HSH / Partner Notification
  • Urgent referrals should be discussed by telephone with the clinic on 01463 888300 pressing “If you are a medical professional looking for clinical advice - press 3" option. A message can be left which will be returned promptly or email: nhsh.hsh-healthadvisor@nhs.scot.. This address is checked daily Monday to Friday.
Please ensure that the department is informed of any special requirements, such as interpreters, or unsuitable dates for attendance due to other commitments. Please include a current telephone contact number for the patient, including a mobile number to receive appointment text reminders.

 

Clinical advice

  • Clinical advice may be sought via Clinical Dialogue to Highland Sexual Health: Please note that single handed part-time specialists may take longer to respond, especially if they are on leave (in particular Gender Service).
  • SEXUAL HEALTH | Right Decisions (scot.nhs.uk)

Other contact information

Abbreviations

  • PrEP: Pre-exposure prophylaxis
  • STI: Sexually transmitted infection
  • GUM: Genito-Urinary medicine
  • LARC: Long-acting reversible contraception
  • HSH: Highland Sexual Health
  • HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
  • Hx: History
  • VTE: Venous thromboembolism 
  • LNG-IUD: Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 09/10/2024

Next review date: 31/10/2027

Author(s): Highland Sexual Health Department.

Version: V2

Approved By: TAMSG of the ADTC

Reviewer name(s): Dr H Lata, Consultant SRH, Raigmore.

Document Id: TAM375