Staff at sexual health clinic 'constantly battling' to break stigma

Medical professionals are facing a ‘constant battle’ to try and reduce the stigma around sexual health.

Earlier this month the new Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre relocated to a new home on Kensington Road, in Douglas, to meet the ‘ever-growing’ demands on the service.

The service had previously been based at Noble's Hospital. 

It's now described as a ‘one stop shop’ for contraception, testing and the management and treatment of all sexually transmitted infections including HIV.

With more consultation rooms, and an on-site lab, the staff at the MISH say it's an improvement on the former facility and will lead to greater access for patients seeking assessment.

There are even discreet service hatches between the clinic toilets and the laboratory to make it easier for patients to hand over samples.

Another media outlet on the Island was recently criticised for how it reported the move after initially choosing to use what some people saw as an inappropriate headline.

Lead Nurse Amanda Dawson told Manx Radio people should 'never be scared' to seek an appointment: