A SEXUAL health clinic at the North Cambs Hospital in Wisbech has won an award for its innovative services. The Community Hospitals Association has awarded Clinic 1 its annual Innovation and Best Practice Award for its community genito-urinary medicine (G

A SEXUAL health clinic at the North Cambs Hospital in Wisbech has won an award for its innovative services.

The Community Hospitals Association has awarded Clinic 1 its annual Innovation and Best Practice Award for its community genito-urinary medicine (GUM) service.

The service won its award for its weekly evening clinic (Clinic 1) which provides confidential screening, diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis immunisation, emergency contraception and advice on sexual health.

Before the clinic opened in February 2006 users had to travel to Peterborough District Hospital 22 miles away of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, 14 miles away.

The Community Hospitals Association presented six different services with innovation awards and the Wisbech service was judged the overall winner.

GP Stephen Watts, a GP with a special interest in sexual health, runs the service at the North Cambs.

He said: "I am delighted we have won this award. It is an acknowledgement of all the hard work and dedication of the staff.

"In addition to this award the service has attained national recognition in the fields of GUM and sexual reproductive health. Our user feedback is also positive about the service we offer stating they were comfortable with the service, felt it was of benefit and that they had the opportunity to ask questions."

Dr Liz Robin, director of public health, NHS Cambridgeshire said: "This award is well deserved and my congratulations go to all staff involved in its success. The clinic is an excellent example of how we, as commissioners of services, can work in partnership with local hospitals, community service providers and GPs to develop innovative and accessible for local people.

"The clinic, and others like it, are examples of how services in community hospitals across Cambridgeshire are developing to meet the needs of residents, now and in the future.