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Society of Sexual Health Advisers

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SSHA Conference: Newcastle 2002

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Introduction
Sandra Jarrett: SSHA Conference & Education Officer

The SSHA Annual Conference 2002 took place in the heart of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the Royal Station Hotel, 26th-28th April. This was the first time the conference had been held over a weekend and the turnout was excellent.

The conference provided an opportunity for learning, networking and updating on the changes and developments of health advising and sexual health services, especially with the publication of the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV.

We were very pleased to have Cathy Hamlyn giving the opening address. Cathy was representing Yvette Cooper, the then Under-Secretary Of State for Health, and she was very interested to hear the work that had been done by health advisers on the Guidelines for Partner Notification and the Manual for Health Advising Practice which are being funded and supported by the Department of Health. She was also keen to take back the issues on training and development, and reiterated the Department’s commitment to the role of health advisers, their expansion in numbers, and to create a recognised training qualification.

This gave the conference delegates a morale-booster in the recognition of the profession as a key player in sexual health. This was reflected in the excellent presentations, posters, workshop reports, and debate showing the diversity and creativity of health advisers in a period of change and uncertainty.

They also showed the experience, qualities, and dedication of health advisers, and although this year’s programme was fairly packed and intense, it hopefully provided stimulation and interest in the continuation of good practice and professional development.

I would like to thank all the speakers, facilitators and debaters for their time and hard work, the poster presenters, the sponsors for their support and enthusiasm, and the delegates for making it such a memorable experience.

I would particularly like to thank those who helped organise the conference with me: Chris Faldon for bringing a real flavour of Newcastle to the proceedings, Debbie Burnett for being there and keeping me sane, Lynn Wilson for doing a fantastic job in arranging the sponsors and gifts, and Helen Turner for being a superb secretary and keeping it all on track.

Also, to Council members and colleagues for their help and advice, and to Patrick French for his support and encouragement of health advisers.

This will be my last time as conference officer as I am standing down from Council to concentrate more on the development of the training qualifications and registration issues for health advisers.

Next year’s conference will take place in Sheffield, and I look forward to enjoying it as a participant for a change!

Some are large and may take some time to download. Those over 1MB in size are not published. They may be available from the author on request.

Presentations

  • Chlamydia Screening in Non-Medical Settings – Katy Carrick-Anderson & Louise McKay,
  • Investigation into the Acceptablility & Effectiveness of New Contact Slips in the Management of Chlamydia trachomatis at a London GUM Clinic – Anthony Wright, Mortimer Market Clinic
  • Working Women – are they getting enough? – Julie Ledger
  • The Suicide Bombers of Sexual Health – what gay men are really up to – Bernard Kelly, St Thomas’ Hospital, London
  • Annual General Meeting (Powerpoint, 68kB)

Facilitated Focus Groups

  • Health Promotion – Heather Wilson, Barnet
  • Ethics – Gill Bell, Sheffield.
  • Recall – Kathryn Lee, North Manchester
  • Partner Notification – Lesley Anderson, Shoreham
  • Counselling – Tony Proom, Macclesfield
  • Community/Outreach – Debbie Burnett, Barnet

 

Debate: “This house believes that HIV results should be given to patients by telephone”

  • Chair, Dr Patrick French
  • Bethan Moran, Chester (For)
  • Ceri Evans, Charing Cross (Against)

Evaluation

About SSHA

The Society of Sexual Health Advisers (SSHA) is a UK national organisation with approximately 300 members out of an estimated 350 sexual health advisers in the country. It provides an opportunity for members to meet and work towards further professional development.

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