Accessing sexual health services

August 2023 - Service Update

Patients can call our telephone lines to book a face-to-face appointment. Some services and clinical needs may require a telephone assessment prior to being offered an appointment in clinic. 

The appointment booking line : - 0300 123 5474 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday.

Face to face appointments can be provided at the following clinic venues:-

08.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday at St Catherine’s Health Centre, Birkenhead 

4.30pm - 6.30pm on Tuesday at Victoria Central Hospital, Wallasey

4.30pm - 6.30pm on a Thursday at Eastham Clinic, Eastham 

*all appointment slots are subject to availability.

Walk-in clinics are back 

We are really pleased to reintroduce walk-in and wait clinics to Sexual Health Wirral. This means that people may now turn up to a designated clinic session without a pre-booked appointment. *Please see the walk-in clinic criteria below. 

You can attend Gemini Centre, St Catherines Health Centre, Birkenhead without an appointment on:

• Tuesday 08.30 - 11.30am 
• Wednesday 4.00 - 7.00pm
• Thursday 10.00 - 2.30pm

Please note all other days, times and venues remain appointment only.

Important information about walk-in clinics

The following services are provided by pre booked appointment only - please do not attend a walk in and wait clinic for:-

• Implant Removal 
• IUS/IUD fitting or replacement 

Please always consider if attending a clinic is necessary - we provide a range of remote care and self-care options that are easy to access:- 

Contraception: 

If your pill runs out within days, urgent prescription ordering is available using local pharmacy services via NHS 111. See emergency prescription service.

If you require a new LARC or a replacement LARC procedure (insertion, replacement or removal of coils or implants) each case will be assessed individually.  

Some Wirral GPs also offer LARC services in partnership with us - see our list here for those who offer LARC to their own patients, and those who will see patients registered with any practice in Wirral GP Services in the Community - Sexual Health Wirral You can book directly with the practice, more information is available on the link. 

Even if your GP surgery is not on our website list, they may still provide coils and implants to their own patients independently and waiting times may be shorter. Call your own surgery to enquire. 

Emergency contraception:

This is available for free from a range of Wirral pharmacies who supply it from their community premises in partnership with our service. Many are offering telephone consultations and collection. More information can be found at Pharmacy Services.

Free postal STI kits:

Test kits are still available online, the kits are free and available to anybody aged 16 and over living in Wirral * Wirral postcodes CH41 - CH63. Postal test kits are designed for and aimed at people who are not experiencing symptoms of an infection. There are a range of kits to choose from for STI testing. All kits are discreet and easy to use. 

STI treatment / medication:

We continue to provide medication and treatment for diagnosed STIs, using virtual and postal platforms where appropriate. If you have received a positive test result for an STI or have had sexual contact with somebody who has tested positive please contact us on 0300 1235474.

NHS 111

NHS 111 can help if you need urgent medical help or you're not sure what to do. They will ask questions about your symptoms, so you get the help you need. If you need to go to A&E, NHS 111 will book an arrival time. This might mean you spend less time in A&E. This also helps with social distancing.

You can get help from 111.nhs.uk or call 111. It's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

These are unprecedented times, and we must protect our patients, colleagues, communities, ourselves, and each other.

We thank you for your support and understanding.

Additional support

LINK TEAM - FastTrack access

If you are supporting somebody with a vulnerability or barrier to accessing our care, or you feel they need a more urgent assessment please contact us on 0300 1235474 and ask to speak to a Link Team member. 

DA Languages 

If you require, an interpreter can be provided please let one of our team know as soon as possible 

Young person clinics at Brook Wirral (Aged 19 and under) 

Brook Wirral

Brook Wirral operates a free and confidential service for people aged 19 and under, offering sexual health screening, contraception, pregnancy testing, free condoms and advice.

Clinic location: Brook, 14 Whetstone Ln, Birkenhead CH41 2QR

Brook opening hours:

Monday to Thursday 3pm - 6pm 

Friday 3pm - 5.30pm 

Saturday 1.15pm - 3.30pm 

To book a telephone consultation, please call 0151 670 0177 when clinic is open.

During your consultation, you will speak to one of our clinicians who will triage and assess your needs. You will then be provided with advice, signposted accordingly or we will make you a face to face appointment.

Service offer

• STI testing & treatment
• Condoms & lubricant    
• Contraception  
• Emergency contraception          
• Pregnancy testing          
• Abortion referrals          
• Sexual and contraceptive advice

If you feel your need is urgent please call our Sexual Health Wirral line on 0300 1235474. Phone lines are open 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday. 

Did you know Brook Wirral is part of Sexual Health Wirral?

The team at Brook Wirral offer a specialised service for young people aged 13-19 and are based in Birkenhead town centre.