“Excellent, life-saving service”

31 March 2022 - Sexual Health and wellbeing clinic for transgender and non-binary people run by King’s and cliniQ continues to receive excellent patient feedback

Three years after it launched, a holistic sexual health and wellbeing service for transgender and non-binary people has been described as “life-saving” by patients.

The walk-in clinic, which runs every Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm at the Caldecot Centre at King’s College Hospital, has received consistently positive patient feedback since it launched in April 2019.

In the latest patient satisfaction survey, 99% of patients who responded (97 people) were pleased with the service they received. Additionally, all those who responded said they would recommend the service to a friend.

Comments included:

The clinic, which is run in partnership with cliniQ – a sexual health, mental health and wellbeing service run by trans people, for trans people – offers a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to meet the needs of transgender and non-binary people.

Services include STI testing and treatment, contraception, counselling, cervical screening, hormone testing and advice, sexual assault support, hate crime support, housing advice, and PrEP.

The team delivering the service comprises a counsellor, support workers, and a doctor. They provide care and support at the clinic and work with other relevant services such as primary care, mental health services and social services.

Dr Michael Brady, Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV at King’s College Hospital and National Advisor for LGBT Health at NHS England said, “I’m delighted the service continues to receive positive patient feedback, particularly as we mark Trans Day of Visibility (31 March).

“Trans and non-binary people are disproportionally affected by health inequalities and a range of potential physical, psychological and social problems. The service at King’s, in partnership with cliniQ, has been put in place to address these issues. By combining health and wellbeing services we are able to care for the whole person in an accepting, inclusive environment.”

Michelle Ross, cliniQ Co-founder and Director, added, “The unique partnership with CliniQ and King’s sends a message of inclusion, not only to trans, non-binary and gender diverse people, it also send a very clear message to other health service providers that inclusion matters and that it can changes people’s lives. Mental health and wellbeing is negatively impacted by exclusion. We focus on the whole health of trans people. CliniQ is a community service by and for us.”

The service is funded by the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.

People can book an appointment at the clinic online: https://www.zesty.co.uk/practices/kch-camberwell-clinicq-at-kings.