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Sexual health care by GPs limited by lack of choice and condoms

GPs provide poor contraception and sexual health promotion services for young people, despite Health of the Nation targets to reduce gonorrhoea and unwanted pregnancies, says a survey commissioned by the Family Planning Association.

The survey, of 60 practices in Devon, Sheffield, Bedford, West Glamorgan and London, found that none had special arrangements for people under 20 years old, and only four supplied condoms.

Some GPs were confused about the legal status of provision of contraception to people under 16. In one practice parents were allowed to see medical records of their children under 16, although in some circumstances this may be contrary to the Access to Health Records Act 1990.

In some practices certain types of contraception were targeted at particular social groups, with working class women more likely to be offered injectable contraception and less likely to be offered ‘natural’ methods than middle class women.

Since 1974, when family planning first became available within the NHS, there has been a steady shift away from services provided by community clinics and towards GP provision. Over 70% of women now go to GPs rather than clinics for contraception, and one in four health authorities nationally has made cuts to their clinic services.