Young people in Bradford and Airedale are getting quicker and easier access to screening for chlamydia, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK, thanks to a new way of working.

Last year, sexual health services provided in the community by the former Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services (BACHS) merged with Trinity Centre sexual health service on Trinity Road – part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

And with eight per cent of all chlamydia screening tests in the district proving positive – two per cent higher than the national average – this is welcome news, said screening team leader Liz Ward.

“In the last year we have screened nearly 9,000 young people and the integration of BACHS into the hospital has linked the team in Bingley more closely with the Trinity Centre,” she said.

“Joining forces has helped provide a comprehensive, seamless, sexual health service for patients. We can now provide provision from supplying condoms to referring clients to specialist doctors at the Trinity Centre. As well as strengthening already existing relationships, we share the same senior manager and are also now working to the same policies, procedures and guidelines.”

Liz is based at the Canalside Health Centre in Bingley alongside health advisers Angela Talbot and Rachel Parker, administrators, Julie Bailey and Sarah Hey and the screening team, which is made up of Cira Cunningham, Katie Chippindale and Andrea Schofield.

The team offers chlamydia screening to those under the age of 25 at doctors’ surgeries, hospitals, contraception and sexual health clinics, as well as schools and colleges.

They also attend public events such as Bradford Pride and will be at the public open event at Field House at Bradford Royal Infirmary on Wednesday, September 12, between 2pm to 4.30pm.

Chlamydia affects men and women and most people who have it will have no symptoms and without a test will probably not know anything is wrong. However, if left untreated it can cause infertility and long term pelvic pain.

“We manage all chlamydia tests, even postal ones, and follow-up those patients with positive results with treatment and partner notification,” said Liz, who stressed all services are confidential and patient results are only ever shared with screening staff and the patient themselves.

Tests can be requested through the website bash.nhs.uk