Family Planning Services

Definition/Description

This referral pathway enables health care professionals to refer patients for accessing Specialist Family planning services in Hull and ER such as

Patients who fall under Category 3 in UK medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (A condition where the theoretical or proven risks usually outweigh the advantages of using the method. The provision of a method requires expert clinical judgement and/or referral to a specialist contraceptive provider) https://www.fsrh.org/standards-and-guidance/documents/ukmec-2016
To access IUD as Emergency contraception if access to emergency IUD insertion is not available in the GP practice
To access family planning services for young people, hard to reach communities, ethnic minorities, asylum seekers, refugees, vulnerable children and adults: profession referral or self-referral to our Outreach service team by ringing 01482 336397

Red Flag Symptoms

1. Calf pain, swelling and/or redness, Chest pain and/or breathlessness and/or coughing up blood, Loss of motor or sensory function while on COC: Referral for Urgent Care or A&E

2. Breast lump, Unilateral nipple discharge, New nipple inversion, Change in breast skin, New onset migraine, New onset sensory or motor symptoms in the hour preceding onset of migraine, Persistent unscheduled vaginal bleeding while on COC: Urgent medical review and referral if needed

3. Positive pregnancy test with IUD/ IUS in situ: Refer to EPAU

Guidelines on Management

GP practices can prescribe new and repeat oral and injectable contraceptives and long acting reversible contraceptives according the UK medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use:

Referral Criteria/Information

Do Not Refer

See red flag symptoms and their appropriate referral as above.

In addition, do not refer for:

Routine Cervical Cytology
STI symptoms or screening and / treatment of STIs: Referral to the GUM Clinic
Missing Coil Threads: Refer to Community Gynaecology service after a Pelvic USS by Professional referral or through NHS E-Referral
Deep / Missing Implant: Refer to Community Gynaecology service by professional referral or NHS E-Referral or self-referral by the patient by ringing 01482 247111
Contraception or Gynaecology services for people with Learning Disability: Refer to Learning Disability Clinic by Professional referral or through NHS E-Referral
Subfertility: Referral to HUTHT on the appropriate pathway
Vasectomy: Referral through NHS E-Referral or Self-referral by ringing 247111 (Pathway for Hull patients only)
Female Sterilisation: Referral to Gynaecology at HUTHT

Referral Criteria

Non-urgent patients can self-refer via website: https://conifersexhealth.co.uk/ or ring 01482 247111. They may be able to self-book an appointment or be booked an initial telephone triage appointment with a clinician depending on their health need. If they receive a telephone triage appointment, they will then be booked the next available, suitable face to face appointment if required.
Advice and Guidance portal on Choose and book system: to seek advice by the health professional on problems with use of contraceptives instead of referring to the Family planning service
Urgent referral: email or telephone sexual health secretariesCHCP.sexualhealthsecretaries@nhs.net or 01482 336353

Referrals

Non-urgent patients should self-refer via the website: https://conifersexhealth.co.uk/ or 01482 247111. They may be able to self-book an appointment OR be booked an initial telephone triage appointment with a clinician depending on their health need. If they receive a telephone triage appointment, they will then be booked the next available, suitable face to face appointment if required.
Urgent referrals received via email or telephone to the sexual health secretaries CHCP.sexualhealthsecretaries@nhs.net or 01482 336353 will be allocated the next available, suitable face to face appointment if required, following an initial telephone triage appointment with a sexual health nurse