About our services

We provide innovative services, delivered by a committed, highly skilled workforce to achieve standards of excellence in sexual health. Our team includes health advisors, doctors, sexual health nurses and support staff who are friendly, non-judgmental and will be happy to advise on any matters related to sexual health.

Our services are free, confidential and open to people of all ages (including under 16s).

How to access our services

We no longer provide walk-in services and all patients requiring advice will undergo a full clinical triage by phone with a qualified staff member in a timescale appropriate to their need.

Those requiring emergency contraception should in the first instance contact the central booking line (number below) or seek advice via Community pharmacies - please use the links below to find those providing this service.

Contact telephone numbers are as below:

County Durham

County Durham residents Central Booking Line (Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm): 0191 372 8700

Darlington

Darlington Sexual Health Hub (GUM): 01325 743 203

Contraception in Darlington is delivered by Primary Healthcare Darlington. To book an appointment please contact the Central Booking Line on 01325 952 278. Further information on contraception in Darlington.

Darlington Contraception clinics have reopened and are now running at the following times but for both staff and patient safety we will not be offering walk-in appointments for the foreseeable future and this clinic has been replaced with prebookable appointments at the following times:

  • Monday 9am to 1pm
  • Wednesday & Thursday - 4.30pm to 8.30pm
  • Saturday - 9am to1pm

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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are passed from one person to another through sex or genital contact. STIs can affect people regardless of gender identity and of any age.

Many people found to have an STI have no symptoms at all.  Other people may have some of the following symptoms:

  • A smelly, itchy or unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or bottom
  • Pain when going to the toilet to pass urine
  • Pain when having sex
  • Lumps, sores and growths around the genitals or in and around the bottom
  • Skin rashes around the genitals

If you are concerned about STIs but don't have any symptoms please visit SH:24 for an online test.

If you think you have thrush or BV you can attend your local pharmacy for treatment.

The most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK are listed here. Click each title to read more about each one.

All patients are offered tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis.  We may offer additional tests depending on your symptoms. We can diagnose some conditions like warts by examining your skin in clinic.

If you have any symptoms or know you have been in contact with someone who has an infection, please call us to make an appointment as soon as you can.  Sexual infections can take different amounts of time to show up on our tests - we may ask you to return to repeat your tests to make sure you receive accurate results.

If you are concerned about STIs but don't have any symptoms please visit SH:24 for an online test.

We no longer provide walk-in services and all patients requiring advice will undergo a full clinical triage by phone with a qualified staff member in a timescale appropriate to their need.

Those requiring emergency contraception should in the first instance contact the central booking line (number below) or seek advice via Community pharmacies.

Contact telephone numbers are as below:

  • County Durham residents Central Booking Line (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm): 0191 372 8700
  • Darlington residents Contraception Central Booking Line : 01325 743 203
  • Darlington Sexual Health Hub (GUM) : 01325 743 203

When you arrive, please go to reception to let us know you are here. New patients will be asked to complete some registration documents.

One of our team will take you into a clinic room and check your contact details.  We will ask you some brief questions to assess which member of our staff can meet your needs.  You will then either be seen by one of our nurses or our doctors.

We will ask some questions about any symptoms you may have and about your general health. Then we will discuss which tests you require. If we need to examine you, we will explain how this is done and will give you privacy to get changed.  None of our tests are painful, but a few people find some tests slightly uncomfortable. An examination usually takes less than 10 minutes.  If you are worried about having any of our tests please speak to your nurse or doctor.  You can ask for a chaperone (someone else from the clinic) to be present or request which gender of staff you see. If you would prefer to see a male or female member of staff, please try to let us know when you make your appointment as this helps us to ensure we are able to meet your needs when you attend.

We are able to process some tests whilst you wait and you will receive these results before you go home. Most tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and HIV are sent away for analysis.  If you are able to give us your mobile phone number, we will send you the results by text message.  You should receive your results within 14 days.

We are able to diagnose and treat many conditions during your appointment.  Our clinics stock the most common treatments and we try to give you what you need whilst you are with us.  Our treatments are completely free and you do not need to take a prescription to a pharmacy.  If we are sending your tests away for analysis and the results show you need treatment, we will contact you and arrange for you to get your medication.

If you have an STI, your sexual partners may also need treatment.  We will discuss how we can help to arrange this, whether you are able to do this on your own or if you would like us to help.

All of our clinics offer a confidential service, which means that your records can only be read by members of our team and cannot be accessed by other people who work for the NHS such as your GP. It helps us if you can use your real date of birth and mobile number so we can identify you and get in touch if we need to.

In the majority of cases, nobody else will know you have attended our clinic.  However, your safety is our primary concern and if you were to tell us something that made us worried about your safety, we may involve other professionals in your care.  We will tell you if this is required and we will explain what we plan to do.

In some cases, the nature of your symptoms may mean that you need advice from another medical department, for example Urology or Gynaecology.  In these cases we may ask your permission to write to your GP so we can ensure you get the care you need.

If you're having sex and don't want to get pregnant it's important to choose the right contraception for you. There are lots of methods to choose from, some are pills that are taken every day and some are longer acting such as the implant, the injection and the coil, which is fitted just inside the womb. Each method of contraception has some advantages and disadvantages so it's helpful to find out about all your options so that you can make the best choice.  When contraception doesn't fit with a person's lifestyle it might not be used properly, which can increase the risk of unplanned pregnancy.

The main methods of contraception are listed below. Please click on each one to find out more:

We can also supply caps, diaphragms and vaginal rings on request. All forms of contraception are free.

Many people have sex without using contraception. Sometimes we can forget to use contraception properly or occasionally it can fail for other reasons. If you have had sex without using effective contraception and you are not trying for a baby, it may not be too late to prevent a pregnancy.

Emergency Hormonal Contraception pills (sometimes called 'the morning after pill') must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of having unprotected sex. These pills are most effective if taken within 12 hours.

You can get these pills for free from any of our clinics or from a participating pharmacy. It is advisable to check that a trained pharmacist is on site prior to attending.

Click below to see participating pharmacies in your area:

  • Darlington
  • Durham Dales (includes Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, Crook, Stanhope, Tow Law & Willington)
  • Derwentside (includes Burnopfield, Dipton, Consett, Craghead, Lanchester Langley Park & Stanley)
  • Durham and Chester-le-Street (includes Bowburn, Belmont, Brandon, Framwellgate Moor, Gilesgate, Great Lumley & Sacriston)
  • Easington (includes Blackhall Colliery, Horden, Kelloe, Murton, Peterlee, Seaham, Shotton Colliery, South Hetton, Wheatley Hill & Wingate)
  • Sedgefield (includes Ferryhill, Fishburn, Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, Spennymoor, Trimdon & West Cornforth)

Remember our clinics may be closed on public holidays and at weekends so it is important not to leave things until the last minute.

If more than 72 hours (3 days) have passed you may have other options. We can offer certain patients an emergency contraceptive pill which can be taken up to 5 days (120 hours) after sex.  In some situations we may offer to fit an Intrauterine Device as emergency contraception which is helpful if you also want to establish regular contraception.

Read more from the NHS about emergency contraception.

If you've had sex without using condoms you're also at risk of sexually transmitted infections.  We would recommend coming to see us for a check-up - we may be able to address your contraception and sexual health infection screen in a single appointment.

As part of a wider Teen Mother Pathway, the Sexual Health Team offer pregnant young women aged under 25 and living in the Durham County Council local authority area, contraception and sexual health support through an antenatal Contraception Plan. Pregnant young women are referred by their midwife at booking and are offered up to 3 consultation appointments at different stages in their pregnancy.

The Contraception Plan consists of:

  • A sexual health assessment  to explore any pre-existing risks that may affect the unborn baby
  • Promoting the use of condoms and provide C cards where required
  • Offering dual chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening and support to access GUM services if appropriate
  • Contraception education to support the young women to identify suitable methods of contraception in preparation for after baby is born
  • Providing information on local sexual health services
  • Offering an appointment to attend local Contraception and Sexual Health (CaSH) clinic for postnatal contraception
  • Raising awareness of Emergency Contraception including how and when to access it if required

When you come to a clinic we will ask you some questions to help you decide which method might be best for you.  We will check if you have any health problems, if you are taking any other medication and what your lifestyle is like.  We will also measure your weight, blood pressure and height to check your chosen method is safe for you. We are happy to see patients who are not yet 16 but we may ask a few extra questions to check your safety and understanding. This is confidential and your parents or carers won't find out. However, your safety is our primary concern and if you were to tell us something that made us worried about your safety, we may involve other professionals in your care.  We will tell you if this is required and we will explain what we plan to do.

If you would like to think about your options before you come to clinic, please click My Contraception Tool. This is a web based app that will help you to decide which type of contraception might suit you best.

We may not be able to start you on certain methods of contraception if there is a risk you may already be pregnant because you have had unprotected sex.  Please remember that pregnancy can take up to 3 weeks to show up on a test - sometimes we may ask you to return to clinic to repeat a pregnancy test before issuing you with your chosen contraception.

We offer free pregnancy testing in all of our clinics. For some people having a positive pregnancy test can be a very happy time however we understand that this is not the case for everybody.  If you find out you're pregnant and you're not sure if you want to continue with the pregnancy or if you have already decided you would like to discuss having a termination (abortion) we can help.

All patients in County Durham and Darlington can access termination services for free. You can call the number below to book your own appointment or we can help you to do this, you do not need to be referred by your GP.

For advice, support and a consultation appointment for termination of pregnancy at Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Darlington or Durham hospitals please telephone 01388 455 333 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm). We also offer a counselling service - contact us on 01388 455 110 (Monday to Thursday 8am to 5pm).

We recommend all patients considering termination have a check up for sexual infections.  We can also discuss what kind of contraception you may like to use in future.

More information on the Termination of Pregnancy Service.

If you think you may have been sexually assaulted, it is important to consider whether or not you would like to involve the police.  If you would like to make a report to the police or you are unsure what to do, we recommend that you contact the local police directly on 101 or The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), which covers the whole of County Durham and Darlington.

The SARC is able to offer advice and help you decide if having a forensic examination (swabs done to look for the DNA of an alleged assailant) is appropriate.  These examinations are usually done when you report a possible sexual assault within 7 days of its occurrence.

Our GUM clinics are happy to see all patients, regardless of whether you have already involved the police or not.  We will offer you STI screening and a course of hepatitis B vaccination.  We will also be able to meet any needs you may have for emergency or on-going contraception. We will assess your risk of HIV infection, and we may offer you a course of HIV drugs to reduce the risk. 

Order your free and confidential Sexually Transmitted Infection testing kit that you can access 24 hours a day

If you are living in County Durham or Darlington you can order a free testing kit for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and HIV

or you can order a free HIV test.

Remember the best way to protect yourself from STI's is to use a condom. These are FREE with C-Card if you're 13-24 or from your local Sexual Health Clinic. Visit our Free Condoms section for advice, information and how to access.

What if I don't want a testing kit posted home?

If you are aged between 16 and 24 you can collect an easy to complete Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea test from most pharmacies in County Durham or you can book an appointment at one of our clinics.

A non-judgemental and welcoming approach to everyone is key to the philosophy of our service.

We aim to offer holistic sexual health care across a full range of sexual health services designed to meet the specific need of individuals within LGBTQ+ communities.

To enable us to provide the most suitable care for you, we will need to ask all patients a few questions to ensure you are signposted to the most appropriate service. These questions may include asking about your sexual orientation, gender, identity and preferred name.

Confidentiality and respect is an especially sensitive issue for all individuals and your information will not be used for any other purpose.

Feel free to contact us and come along for contraceptive provision and sexual health testing, advice and/or signposting to other services.

Please use the links to the right to provide you with additional information and contacts.

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Monkeypox

For more information about monkeypox and HIV please visit the Terrence Higgins Trust website.

HIV Testing

We offer all patients an HIV test as part of every routine appointment.  We use the latest technology in testing to check a small sample of blood which is taken from your arm. We understand that some people are frightened of having blood tests taken so if you are nervous please let us know.  The procedure is very quick and usually feels like no more than a small scratch - our staff are very skilled and will put you at your ease.

Usually HIV test results are returned to you along with the results of any other tests you have taken, at 14 days from your initial clinic visit.  However, in certain circumstances we may offer to perform an instant HIV test which provides a provisional result within 1 minute.  If we offer you this instant test, we will explain its advantages and disadvantages.

If you are living in County Durham you can order a free HIV test.

PEPSE

If you think you may have had sex with somebody who is HIV positive without using a condom, we may offer you "PEPSE" Post Exposure Prophylaxis following Sexual Exposure.  This is a 28 day course of medication which if taken in the right circumstances can reduce your risk of HIV infection.  PEPSE is most effective if taken in the first 24 hours following a possible exposure to the HIV virus but can be taken up to 72 hours afterwards.  We will ask you a few questions to help us evaluate your risk and we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of initiating this treatment depending on your individual circumstances.

PrEP & HIV Prevention

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP) is offered to those who may be at high risk of acquiring HIV infection. PreP medication is a single tablet containing two drugs that are used to treat HIV and is free. It has been shown to be highly effective at preventing infection. PreP medication can be taken daily or event based depending on an individual's circumstances. PreP users are seen about every 3 months for a sexual health check and to collect further medication if needed.

It is available from the 3 hubs (GUM) at University Hospital of North Durham, Darlington Memorial Hospital and Bishop Auckland Hospital.

If you would like to access PreP, please phone for an appointment.

More information is available on THT website.

Services for people living with HIV

If you have been diagnosed with HIV we provide comprehensive outpatient HIV treatment and care in our Durham, Bishop Auckland and Darlington Sexual Health Hubs (GUM) clinics.  We offer routine HIV check-ups including blood tests; we provide HIV treatment; and we offer annual cervical screening and flu vaccination for all patients living with HIV.  We run a specialist HIV pharmacist clinic and we can refer patients into our specialist HIV psychology service.  We also have close links with members of the social work service who have responsibility for people living with HIV.

Our HIV patients are usually seen by one of our consultants and we may also involve our nurses and health advisors in your care.

We do not run specific HIV clinics - our patients are welcome to book an appointment within any of our Sexual Health Hubs which we find helps to maximise your confidentiality.  If you need to have monitoring bloods done, it is helpful if you can book a morning appointment, as several samples need to reach the laboratory within particular time limits.

If you need help or advice in between appointments, we are happy to hold telephone consultations. Please contact our reception and we can telephone you back at a convenient time.

C Card is a condom distribution scheme that provides registered young people 13-24 years with a C Card which entitles them to free condoms. It also gives young people access to sexual health information, advice and support.

This initiative allows you to pick up free condoms from over 200 outlets throughout County Durham and Darlington once you have completed some straightforward registration details. The C Card is a plastic card the same size as a credit card.

If you would like a C Card you need to attend an outlet which offers C Card registration. If you already have a C Card you can attend any outlet to pick up free condoms.

Please click the area links below to see where C Card is available in your area:

  • Durham Dales (includes Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Cockfield, Coundon, Crook, Evenwood, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Stanhope, Tow Law & Wolsingham)
  • Derwentside (includes Annfield Plain, Consett, Dipton, Lanchester, Langley Park, Leadgate, South Moor and Stanley)
  • Durham and Chester-le-Street (includes Belmont, Bowburn, Brandon, Coxhoe, Esh Winning, Fencehouse, Framwellgate Moor, Great Lumley, Pelton, Ushaw Moor & West Rainton)
  • Easington (includes Blackhall Colliery, Horden, Kelloe, Peterlee, Seaham & Wingate)
  • Sedgefield (includes Ferryhill, Fishburn, Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, Spennymoor, Trimdon & West Cornforth)
  • Darlington

More information on how to use condoms correctly:

Condom Demonstration Video

Free condoms for over 16s

The integrated Sexual Health Service includes:

  • STI / HIV screening, testing and treatment
  • Contraception

We will respect the confidentiality of any information that you provide to the Sexual Health Service.

Sometimes we may need to share your information with other healthcare professionals when this directly affects your own health or the health of others.

Your record is not linked to your GP or other hospital records but remains within the integrated sexual health service.

If we need to discuss a result with you or you test positive for an infection, a clinician will contact you via your preferred method, to arrange treatment for you and your partner(s).

If we are unable to contact you via your preferred method, we may try other methods such as telephone or sending letters to your home address, before advising your GP.

If you are under 16 years old and we are unable to contact you by your preferred method we may try to contact you via your school nurse.

Your information may be used within the department to improve the service we offer, such as undertaking clinical audit.  Only anonymous data will be used.

If you are not happy with the service you can make a complaint following the Trust procedure / Patient Experience Team.   Information can be obtained from staff member.

Please speak to a clinician if you have any questions or concerns about this

Cervical screening is a free health test available on the NHS as part of the national cervical screening programme. It helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for a virus called high-risk HPV and cervical cell changes.

Who can have a smear?

You should be invited for cervical screening if you have a cervix. Women are usually born with a cervix, however trans men, non-binary and intersex people may also have one.

In the UK, you are automatically invited for cervical screening if you are:

  • between the ages of 25 to 64
  • registered as female with a GP practice.

If you are not registered as female with your GP practice, but have a cervix you are still eligible, and welcome to request cervical screening.

When can I have a smear?

Currently women aged 25 to 49 receive invitations every 3 years. Women aged 50 to 64 receive invitations every 5 years. You may get your first invite up to 6 months before you turn 25. You can book an appointment as soon as you get the invite.

Where can I find out more?

The NHS website provides information for the public on the Cervical Screening Programme.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust is a charity which provides information and support to patients and professionals.

Cervical Screening is offered in all Community CaSH venues and in some Sexual Health Hubs (GUM) by regionally trained nurses. How to book an appointment.

If you feel that you would like to make a compliment, comment, concern or complaint about our service please see the contact information below:

County Durham Sexual Health Services

Please contact the Patient Experience Team.

Darlington Contraception Services

Please email Public.Health@darlington.gov.uk.

Darlington GUM Sexual Health Hub

Please contact the Patient Experience Team.