An open letter to NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board, The Glasgow City Council, and any other interested party:

To Whom This May Concern,

We are sending this open letter to you as students living and studying in Glasgow who are concerned about our access to sexual & reproductive healthcare.

According to a 2019 study(1), students at the University of Strathclyde are the 5th most likely in the UK to be at risk of catching an STI/Blood-borne Virus. This is largely due to the difficulty students at Strathclyde face when trying to access local sexual health services in Glasgow. With extensive GP waiting times(2), the Sandyford clinic being at capacity, and other third-sector and charitable organisations unable to operate or provide services in Glasgow due to either resourcing or intervention from NHSGGC, it is near impossible for a student to be able to access STI Testing and treatment in a reasonable amount of time.

As we am sure you are aware, access to quality sexual health provision is crucial to living a happy and healthy life and access to the maximum attainable standard of sexual and reproductive health is a human right(3). As outlined in the Scottish Government’s Sexual Health & Blood Born Viruses Framework(4), if successfully delivered through ‘joined-up working’ with the NHS, academia, the third-sector, and local authorities, the economic benefits of sexual health intervention at a local authority level outweigh the costs.

As students and residents of the Glasgow community, we ask you in your power as an elected representative or member of the NHSGGC Health Board to work towards rectifying this situation. This can be done by advocating for and providing more financial support for the Sandyford clinic in Glasgow to increase its capacity, tackling the issue of long waiting lists and lack of community engagement & outreach. We ask that you also promote and begin working with the student community directly on sexual health intervention and delivery – ideally this would entail round-table style engagement with the local health board, third sector organisations working in SH/BBV, representation from each Glasgow’s universities and colleges (especially Students’ Unions), representatives from Glasgow’s student accommodation providers, and other community stakeholders within Glasgow. Through this round table, we can begin to ensure accountability, create ongoing improvement, and ensure young people are able to access the sexual health support and care they deserve.

Please reply to this open letter by contacting strathunion.info@strath.ac.uk or by public response.

Sources:

1. https://wellbeingnews.co.uk/news/which-universities-are-failing-to-combat-stis/

2. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/20588276.sex-clinic-patients-hit-lack-appointments-glasgows-sandyford/

3. https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/Sexual-and-Reproductive-Health-and-Rights.pdf

4. https://www.globalhep.org/sites/default/files/content/action_plan_article/files/2020-04/UK-Scotland%20Sexual%20Health%20and%20Blood%20Borne%20Virus%20Framework%202011-2015.pdf