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Girls to receive pregnancy tests at school |
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News Watch
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 |
Pregnancy tests available to girls as young as 11 at school health clinics have been criticised by campaigners, as local authorities try to widen their availability.
Family campaigners said proposals to distribute condoms and provide routine pregnancy tests for thousands of schoolgirls risked promoting promiscuity.
The comments came as it emerged secondary schools in Liverpool and Wirral would be fitted with clinics as part of a teenage health drive.
The clinics could allow children as young as 11 to receive pregnancy tests, morning-after pills, screening for sexually-transmitted diseases and confidential advice.
Data released last year showed almost 1,000 schools – a third of those in England – already have sexual health services.
The National Children's Bureau (NCB) has called for the clinics to be expanded to every secondary school and college to give pupils access to high-quality advice and help.
But the latest move has sparked anger from campaigners who complain schools are actively condoning under-age sex.
Dr Adrian Rogers, a GP and founder of the Family Focus campaign said: "Offering this kind of service in the school setting is going to promote promiscuity.
"There is already free, confidential testing and advice available at every GP's surgery and family planning clinic.
"Schools would be far better holding group discussions about the stupidity, the seriousness, and the damaging effects of immature teenage girls who indulge in early sex.
"Schools wading in to provide this service is a complete waste of time and money and will prove counter-productive.”
In Liverpool, health officials are planning to fund a pilot project in five schools where full sexual health clinics will be operated.
In the borough of Wirral, 13 out of 29 secondary schools are already involved in the programme.
A report last year found 11.4 per cent of secondary schools in London had one – offering basic services such as free contraception – but numbers grew to four-in-10 in parts of the north west of England.
They have been introduced to schools since the launch of the Government’s “extended schools” initiative in 2000, which turns schools into one-stop-shops for education, health and social services.
Although pupils are encouraged to tell parents of their visits, Wirral health and council officials have written to parents confirming they do not require consent as the law dictates “no young person can be prevented by the school from accessing the health service”.
Gordon Fair, a lead consultant on the programme said: "Initial indications have shown that health services in school teams are providing early identification on a range of potential health related issues."
He added: "We have found that many young people are being helped and guided on issues including smoking, alcohol use and associated risk-taking behaviours."
But Norman Wells, director of the Family Education Trust, said: "Sexual health clinics on school premises send out the message that it is normal for school children to engage in sexual activity.
"In the past, natural inhibitions combined with fear of pregnancy, legal proceedings and being found out by parents offered a powerful disincentive to underage sex.
"Confidential health clinics in schools are part of a mix that is removing the restraints which previously limited underage sexual activity."
Telegraph
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