The Northern contraception, sexual health and HIV service
Salford’s sexual health services are provided by The Northern Sexual Health, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. They provide free, confidential, high-quality contraception and sexual health services for Salford residents, including:
- Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) screening and treatment
- pregnancy testing
- contraception options including the implant and coil
- emergency hormonal contraception (including the “morning after pill”)
- access to free condoms
- LGBT+ info and advice
- PrEP, a medication to help prevent HIV before you have been exposed to it
- PEP, a medication that can help prevent you from developing HIV if you have already been exposed to it
The Northern currently have a central clinic in Salford, based at Lance Burn Medical Centre (Churchill Way, M6 5QX), with additional weekly clinics across Salford. For opening times and locations, please visit The Northern’s website.
If you think you might have an infection, or just want a sexual health check-up, the doctors and nurses at The Northern will be happy to help. Information on how to book a free and confidential appointment can be found on the Sexual Health Service’s website. Appointments can be booked online through the Personal Health Record or by calling 0161 388 4982. The service can also be contacted by email on Salford.SexualHealth@mft.nhs.uk to answer any queries.
All contraception and sexual health services in England are open access, meaning people can use any clinic in any part of the country. You do not need to be referred by your GP to access the service. If you have no sexual health symptoms but would like to test for STIs, you can be sent a postal kit.
PaSH Partnership
The Passionate about Sexual Health (PaSH) Partnership) is a collaboration between BHA for Equality, George House Trust and the LGBT Foundation.
The PaSH Partnership will deliver a comprehensive programme of interventions to meet the changing needs of people newly diagnosed with HIV, living longer term with HIV or at greatest risk of acquiring HIV. More information can be found at PaSH (gmpash.org.uk).
Emergency Hormonal Contraception at community pharmacies
You can use emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) if you have had sex without using contraception, or if your method of contraception has failed, in the last five days (120 hours). Emergency contraception, such as the morning after pill, can reduce the chance of becoming pregnant, but the sooner it is taken the more effective it will be.
EHC can be accessed free of charge from:
- Selected pharmacies in Salford, provided by an accredited pharmacist (see the list below)
- The Northern Sexual Health
- GP practices (contacting your registered GP)
If you have had unprotected sex or if the condom failed, it is important to also consider the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to consider long-acting contraception.
You can call any of the pharmacies listed on this website to check if they can supply EHC on the day, when needed. Alternatively, you may have to pay a fee for the morning after pill if either:
- the accredited pharmacist is not available for a consultation, or
- your pharmacy of choice is not included in the list
If a pharmacy is unable to provide the morning after pill for free, you should be signposted by pharmacy staff to another pharmacy that can.
Termination of pregnancy services
If you’re pregnant and do not want to continue with the pregnancy, you can contact a sexual health clinic and ask for a referral to a termination of pregnancy service.
You can also contact a termination of pregnancy service directly, or speak to a GP who can refer you for an appointment
Find termination of pregnancy services – NHS
Help after Rape or sexual assault
Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre – SARC
Peter Mount Building, First Floor, off Hathersage Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 0HY
Telephone: 0161 276 6515 – 24 Hours
