HEALTH chiefs have launched a sexual health screening and treatment service for young people in north Durham.

The advice and information clinic - called The Monday Clinic - will be available to young people up to the age of 25 each Monday, between 4pm and 6pm, at Brandon Lane Surgery, Brandon, Durham.

It will offer a confidential service to give young people the chance to discuss any issue relating to sexual health and provide free treatment and management of all sexually-related illnesses.

Young people will be able to seek advice from doctors and a health advisor with specialist training and knowledge in managing sexually-transmitted infections.

The clinic has been set up by Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust's (PCT) specialist health promotion service to meet the health needs of young people in the area.

No referral is needed and there is no waiting list. To make an appointment, ring 0191-3782099

PCT sexual health outreach worker Sue Thompson said: "Young people experience all different kinds of sexual health issues and the new clinic will mean that young people are able to get their sexual health needs met, instead of ignoring them and hoping they will go away or dealing with them alone.

"Chlamydia is now the most common, curable sexually-transmitted infection in people under 25 in England and Wales, with around one in ten young people being infected by it.

"The infection is most common in younger, sexually-active adults, especially women under 19 years and men under 25 years.

"The rate of chlamydia infection has almost doubled in County Durham over the past five years, mirroring the national increase."

She added: "Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics, but a large number of cases of chlamydia infection remain undiagnosed and untreated as most people do not have symptoms.

"The Monday Clinic is running alongside non-sexual health clinics, so young people can come and get confidential sexual health screening, advice and support, and free treatment without having the embarrassment or stigma associated with attending sexual health services."

For details, contact Ms Thompson on 0191-374 4144.