Sexual health services in Salford

Salford’s sexual health services are provided by The Northern Sexual Health, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. They provide free, confidential, high quality contraception and sexual health services for Salford residents, including:

• STI screening and treatment
• pregnancy testing
• contraception options including the implant and coil
• emergency hormonal contraception (including the “morning after pill”)
• access to free condoms
• LGBT+ info and advice
• PrEP, a medication to help prevent HIV before you have been exposed to it
• PEP, a medication that can help prevent you from developing HIV if you have already been exposed to it

The Northern currently have one central clinic in Salford, based at Lance Burn Medical Centre (Churchill Way, M6 5QX). The service will be opening additional clinics across the city, with locations to be confirmed soon.

If you think you might have an infection, or just want a sexual health check-up, the doctors and nurses at The Northern will be happy to help. Information on how to book a free and confidential appointment can be found on the Sexual Health Service’s website.

Appointments can be booked online through the Personal Health Record or by calling 0161 388 4982. The service can also be contacted by email on Salford.SexualHealth@mft.nhs.uk to answer any queries.

There is no walk-in service at The Northern. All appointments must be booked in advance, either through the PHR or over the phone.

Please check The Northern website for clinic opening times.

All contraception and sexual health services in England are open access, meaning people can use any clinic in any part of the country. You do not need to be referred by your GP to access the service.

If you have no sexual health symptoms but would like to test for STIs, you can be sent a postal kit.

Sexual health is a key part of your physical, mental and social wellbeing. Whether you’re in a relationship, don’t have a regular partner or are not currently having sex, taking care of your sexual health is important.

Contraception is used to help prevent an unplanned pregnancy. There are many methods of contraception to choose from and all of the methods are available in Salford.

In Salford, Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is provided in some General Practices, as well as by the Sexual Health service. LARC, also referred to as “fit and forget”, includes:

• the contraceptive implant
• the intra-uterine system (IUS) – also known as the 'hormonal coil'
• the intra-uterine device (IUD) – also known as the 'copper coil'

LARC is a very effective form of contraception at preventing pregnancy, as it does not rely on you remembering to take it or use it, unlike the contraceptive pill.

To find out more about different types of contraception, visit the NHS website or Contraception Choices.

If you are interested in getting LARC or would like to find out more information, contact your GP in the first instance. If LARC is not offered at your registered GP practice, you can book an appointment at the Northern Sexual Health in Salford.

The council is looking into ways for patients to attend a different GP practice close to them for a LARC appointment if this not offered by their registered GP.

Salford General Practices registered to provide LARC

From 1 December 2023, you can visit a pharmacy for the contraceptive pill, for free and without a prescription. To find a pharmacy providing this service, visit the NHS website.  

You can use emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) if you have had sex without using contraception, or if your method of contraception has failed, in the last five days (120 hours). Emergency contraception, such as the morning after pill, can reduce the chance of becoming pregnant, but the sooner it is taken the more effective it will be.

EHC can be accessed free of charge from:

• Selected pharmacies in Salford, provided by an accredited pharmacist (see the list below)
• The Northern Sexual Health
• GP practices (contacting your registered GP)

If you have had unprotected sex or if the condom failed, it is really important to also consider the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to consider long-acting contraception.

Salford pharmacies registered to provide free emergency hormonal contraception

You can call any of the following pharmacies to check if they can supply EHC on the day, when needed. Alternatively, you may have to pay a fee for the morning after pill if either:

• the accredited pharmacist is not available for a consultation, or
• your pharmacy of choice is not included in the list below

If a pharmacy is unable to provide the morning after pill for free, you should be signposted by pharmacy staff to another pharmacy that can.

Sexual health advice and support is also available from a range of voluntary, community, faith sector organisations (VCFSE) in Salford, as well as in education, maternity and postnatal care services, walk-in centres, and accident and emergency (A&E) services.

Salford residents and organisations can collect condoms through the Youth Service, based at the Beacon Centre (8a London Street, Salford, M6 6QT).

Contact youth.services@salford.gov.uk to request collection.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections spread by unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex, genital contact or through sharing sex toys. Anyone can get an STI and many people with STIs do not have symptoms, so it is worth getting tested regularly even if you feel fine. Early detection and treatment of STIs reduces the spread of infection and may avoid or delay serious complications and consequences, which could cause long-term damage to your health.

STI testing

Regular STI testing is essential to maintain good sexual health. Everyone should get tested for STIs at least once a year if having unprotected (condomless) sex with a new or casual partner(s), even if you do not have any symptoms. Those at higher risk of STIs (gay and bisexual men who have sex with men, people who engage in ChemSex, and sex workers) should get tested every 3 months.

You can access free STI tests from a number of places:

Online

Free home testing kits for STIs are available to order online, delivered in discreet packaging, if you do not have any symptoms. Testing kits can be ordered for:

• Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis – available from www.thenorthernsexualhealth.co.uk
• STI home testing kits can also be ordered from www.thenorthernsexualhealth.co.uk/home-testing-kits
• HIV and syphilis for gay and bisexual men who have sex with men, and Black African populations – available from www.sh24.org.uk and www.freetesting.hiv

In person

If you have symptoms or are aged under 16 years, you should get tested in person. Testing is available at the following places:

• The Northern Sexual Health Service
• Your GP practice

STI treatment

If you do get an STI, do not worry – early treatment can prevent complications and reduce symptoms. STI treatment can be prescribed through The Northern Sexual Health Service and your GP practice.

HIV support

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that can weaken your immune system and is mostly transmitted through sex. There is currently no cure, but early diagnosis and effective treatment enables people with HIV to live full and healthy lives.

If you think you have been exposed to HIV, please visit the Northern Sexual Health Service as soon as possible for an emergency appointment. Walk in or call your local clinic during opening hours, if the clinics are not open, please attend A&E. Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) can be prescribed within 72 hours of a possible exposure to HIV for treatment for people who are HIV negative. The sooner PEP treatment is started, the better.

For Salford residents, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust provides support for people living with HIV at Lance Burn Medical Centre. For more information, please call 0161 206 1093 or 01204 463306.

Tailored support for people newly diagnosed, living with, or at risk of getting HIV in Salford is provided by our PaSH Partnership organisations: George House Trust, LGBT Foundation, and BHA for Equality.

George House Trust

Provides support, advice and advocacy services for people living with HIV across Greater Manchester in relation to managing HIV, emotional wellbeing, confidence and skills in managing sexual relationships, self-care, and the social impact of HIV.

Their services include:

• One-to-one in-person, online and telephone support, including a counselling service. Referrals can be made through health professionals or via self-referral by calling 0161 274 4499 or emailing talk@ght.org.uk
• Group and informal peer support events
• Free formula milk for women living with HIV with infants

For more information visit GHT’s website.

The LGBT Foundation

Provide a range of support for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender to increase their skills, knowledge and self-confidence to improve their health and wellbeing. Their sexual health services include:

• Free condoms: Free Condoms and Lube at your doorstep! - LGBT Foundation (18 years or older only)
• STI and HIV testing
• PrEP/PEP awareness
• Safer Sex Pamphlets and Sex Guides
• Outreach and group sessions
• Workshops and events across Greater Manchester

For more information visit Home - LGBT Foundation, email info@lgbt.foundation or call 0345 3 30 30 30.

BHA for Equality

Provide support and advice to individuals, families and communities from ethnically diverse groups to improve their health and wellbeing, their sexual health services include:

• Free and confidential rapid HIV and STI tests at a range of community venues across Greater Manchester and self-test HIV kits to do yourself at home: Greater Manchester HIV Testing - BHA for Equality
• Free condoms and lube through BHA’s postal service and from one of their community events: Order condoms - BHA for Equality
• A monthly clinic based at Pendleton Gateway (M6 5FX), on the last Thursday of the month, 11am to 2pm
• Information and resources on all matters of sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing available in a range of languages: Resources - BHA for Equality
• Community outreach events and education sessions
• PrEP/PEP advice
• Resources and training for health professionals

For more information visit the BHA website or email pash@thebha.org.uk.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

Preventative medication called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can also be taken to prevent HIV transmission in high-risk groups. It is still important to use condoms while taking PrEP to prevent the transmission of other STIs.

For advice on starting, suspending or getting repeat PrEP prescriptions: PrEP at The Northern Sexual Health website or your GP Practice.

More information on HIV, PrEP and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be found online via the Terrence Higgins Trust.

Contraception is used to help prevent an unplanned pregnancy. There are many methods of contraception to choose from, and all of the methods are available in Salford.

Most people want to use a method of contraception that is safe, reliable, and does not require too much thinking about. There are four methods that fit this description: contraceptive implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), intrauterine systems (IUSs), and contraceptive injections. These are long-acting methods of contraception (LARC). Other popular methods include the combined contraceptive pill and the progestogen-only pill (POP).

For more information on your contraceptive choices, you can book an appointment with one of the services below to discuss your options:

• GP practices (please see this list for GPs providing LARC)
• The Northern Sexual Health

Referrals can also be made to The Northern Sexual Health by your GP, or by self-referral, for complex LARC fittings and removals.

To find out more about different types of contraception, and to help choose between options, the Contraception Choices website and Brook’s contraception tool can help you to reach a decision.

Salford residents and organisations can collect condoms through the Youth Service, based at the Beacon Centre (8a London Street, Salford, M6 6QT).

Contact youth.services@salford.gov.uk to request collection.

Oral and combined hormonal contraception

Oral and combined hormonal contraceptive methods, including the pill, work to prevent pregnancy but are less effective than the coil or implant, as they rely on the person remembering to take or use it.

Oral and combined hormonal contraception methods include the progestogen-only pill (POP or ‘mini pill’), combined contraceptive pill, combined contraceptive patch and the combined vaginal ring.

Oral and combined hormonal contraception are available from GPs and the Northern Sexual Health.

Repeat and new prescriptions for oral hormonal contraception are also available from some pharmacies in Salford. To find a pharmacy providing this service, visit the NHS website.

Emergency contraception

If you have had unprotected sex and are worried you may be pregnant, or if your usual method of contraception has failed, there are 2 types of emergency contraception you can use:

There are two types of emergency contraception:

• The emergency contraceptive pill – Levonelle or ellaOne (the 'morning after pill')
• The intrauterine device (IUD or 'copper coil')

You must take the emergency contraceptive pill within three days (Levonelle) or five days (ellaOne) of unprotected sex for it to be effective.

An IUD can be fitted up to five days after unprotected sex, or up to five days after the earliest time you could have ovulated, for it to be effective.

Contact Salford’s Sexual Health service on 0161 388 4982 if you want to get an IUD fitted for emergency contraception purposes.

Contraception awareness for black, Asian and ethnic minority women

The BHA charity have produced a guide to contraception, which is available in English, French and Arabic.

• Your guide to contraception (English)
• Your guide to contraception (French)
• Your guide to contraception (Arabic)
• Your guide to contraception (Hungarian)
• Your guide to contraception (Romanian)

They have also made the following videos showing text stories inspired by real life conversations which aim to promote discussion and create awareness about contraception.

• Story 1 video
• Story 2 video
• Story 3 video
• Story 4 video

Deciding what to do when you have an unplanned pregnancy can be difficult. 

Talking through the options with a doctor or nurse at a sexual health clinic can help you reach a decision.

The sooner an abortion procedure is done, the easier and safer it is. Most abortions are free on the NHS.

If you think you may want an abortion, call the Central Booking System for Greater Manchester on 0345 365 0565. This service makes appointments for all the clinics in Greater Manchester. The staff are friendly and understanding, and you won’t have to wait long for a consultation – normally less than a week.

Opening hours for the Central Booking System:

• Monday to Friday: 8am to 9pm
• Saturday: 9am to 6:30pm
• Sunday: 9:30am to 2:30pm

MSI Reproductive Choices UK also accept self-referrals as well as referrals from your GP or other healthcare provider. They can see women under the NHS free of charge and they do not require a letter from your doctor or clinic.

The service is open 24 hours 7 days a week, call direct on 0345 300 8090 to book an appointment, or visit MSI Reproductive Choices UK.

BPAS local services phone lines are also open 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm on Saturdays and 9.30 am to 2.30 pm on Sundays. Visit Care & Support | Book an appointment | BPAS for more information.

If you have experienced sexual assault or rape it can be a very scary, overwhelming and confusing time. There are a range of support services available for people who have experienced sexual assault in Salford. To seek help, please contact:

• St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), open to provide healthcare and support to men or women who have been raped or sexually assaulted, living in the Greater Manchester area. They provide a range of services, and help individuals recover from the physical and emotional impact of sexual assault. Contact St Mary’s 24-hour helpline on 0161 276 6515.
• Greater Manchester Rape Crisis, for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives. All services are for women over the age of 18.
• We Are Survivors Greater Manchester, for men over the age of 18 who need support after experiencing sexual violence, whether recent or a past experience.
• The Northern Contraception Sexual Health Service.
• National Rape Crisis helpline, by calling 0808 500 2222.

The LGBT Foundation provides support for all people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) to increase their skills, knowledge and self-confidence to improve their health and wellbeing. Email info@lgbt.foundation or call 0345 3 30 30 30.

Chemsex involves the use of drugs during sex for many reasons, and typically involves gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM). The impact of chemsex can be different for different people, and there can be risks involved.

As well as seeking support from The Northern Sexual Health service, information and advice is also available online:

• LGBT Foundation: Chemsex support and advice
• We Are Survivors and George House Trust: On it – Chems
• ChemSafe Space: A digital resource
• Terrence Higgins Trust: Let's Talk About Chemsex
• Change Grow Live: What is chemsex?

BHA for Equality provide support for people from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse communities. The support includes online sexual health advice and information on sexual health and wellbeing, free and confidential HIV and STI testing, free condoms, and support groups. For more information visit BHA for Equality’s website.

Specific support is available for people with learning disabilities, severe mental illness, homelessness and other vulnerabilities.

Book an appointment online with the Northern Sexual Health Service for advice on emergencies.

Manchester Action on Street Homelessness (MASH) provides support for female sex workers in Greater Manchester and women at risk of entering sex work who are sleeping rough aged 18 and over. More information can be found on the MASH website or by filling out this contact form.

Information and advice about sexual health including how to access services is available at the following websites:

• NHS
• The Northern
• Brook
• Contraceptive Choices
• National sexual health helpline – call 0300 123 7123