Rotherham ‘one of top areas for women taking up long-term contraception in England’
and live on Freeview channel 276
NHS data covering the period 2019-2020 shows that 65 per cent of women in Rotherham who use contraception had a LARC as their main method in 2020. This is compared to 39 per cent in 2015.
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust’s Integrated Sexual Health Service is one of the top services in England for uptake of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) among women.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThere has been an increase in the use of the contraception in Rotherham during the last year, which goes a long way in addressing issues such as teenage pregnancy and unwanted pregnancies.
Dr Nadi Gupta, consultant at the Integrated Sexual Health Service, explained that there are three LARC methods; coils, implants and depo injections.
She said: “A lot of people don’t realise that LARC is far more effective than the contraceptive pill, even in those who are perfect pill takers.
“The data from the 2020 NHS digital, which looks at sexual health clinics across England, shows that Rotherham is joint first place with two other clinics in the percentage of women who access LARC.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“I think the key is that we have a highly experienced team of doctors and nurses who allay any fears and address any myths and misconceptions that patients often have. The whole team really strive to educate and empower women to make an informed choice about their contraception.
“We operate an ‘open door’ policy, in that if patients have any issues whilst using LARC, or any other contraception, we advise them to return to clinic at any time.
“It is important to note that we achieved this success during the COVID pandemic, by staying open and continuing to see patients face-to-face where required,” added Dr Gupta
Teenage pregnancy rates in Rotherham has fallen over the past few years due, in part, to increasing take up of LARC and a range of community interventions.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“There is a clear relationship between conception rate and deprivation and interventions have been targeted to work with deprived young people to address risk taking behaviour and to raise self-esteem and aspiration.”
Lead nurses Nicola Williams and Natalie Gibbons, said: “This is amazing news and such a huge achievement. Congratulations to everyone for such a team effort; from the receptionists, health advisers that triage and book patients in, to the support workers who assist and the doctors and nurses who provide LARC.”