Fewer people in Warwickshire used sexual health services during pandemic

A contraceptive pill, as new research suggests too many women are not using the safest brands.

Fewer people in Warwickshire accessed sexual health services during the coronavirus pandemic, figures suggest.

Experts say widespread disruption to the NHS and changes in behaviour may have contributed to a significant drop in people contacting sexual health clinics nationally during the pandemic.

NHS Digital figures show around 3,130 people approached sexual and reproductive health services in Warwickshire between April 2020 and March – down from 4,940 the year before.

Clinics in the area dealt with 5,945 contacts overall – with some people accessing SRH services more than once over the period.

A drastic fall in face-to-face appointments across England could have prevented people – especially teenagers – from accessing help and support with contraception, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, sexual health charities said.

The figures show that just 47% of consultations held by clinics in Warwickshire in 2020-21 were face-to-face, compared to 97% the year before.

Lisa Hallgarten, from sexual health charity Brook, said remote consultations could prove convenient for some, but highlighted difficulties in accessing care for those without a safe space at home.

She said: "Some will have found the ability to speak to a health care professional from home straightforward.

"Others may have struggled with finding private spaces at home for the conversations they needed, or may have found lack of data or Wi-Fi an obstacle to accessing the services they need."

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV said young people living at home during lockdowns may have been particularly reluctant to access services.