Services
Health support
If you are a survivor we know it can be very difficult to attend certain types of health appointments. Intimate examinations, sexual health testing and natal care can trigger distressing memories.
Our Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs) can offer support before, during and after certain types of health appointments, which you may find distressing or triggering due to the sexual abuse you were subjected to. We can even chaperone you to some health appointments, such as intimate medical healthcare, to ensure that your needs and wishes are understood and that you don’t feel alone. If you would like to have this type of support, please call our ISVA team on 0121 643 0301 (option 2) to discuss how we can help.
Sexual health
- Simple home testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia can also be obtained from the ISVA team.
- Along with our partner service, Umbrella Health, our ISVAs provide a dedicated Abuse Survivors Clinic (ASC) offering specialised services (including contraception advice) to support anyone aged 13 or over who has been subjected to sexual violence, abuse or exploitation at any time in their lives.
The ASC takes place at the following locations and days:
- Whittal Street Clinic, Birmingham, B4 6DH. The 2nd and 4th Wednesday every month.
- Boots, Mell Square, Solihull, B91 3AZ. The 1st and 3rd Friday of the month.
- Chelmsley Wood Primary Care Centre, Crabtree Drive, B37 5BU. Last Thursday of the month.
You will need to book an appointment in advance, by calling 0121 237 5737 or 0121 237 5700
Other health
If the abuse you have have been subjected to impacts your ability to access intimate healthcare, an ISVA can support you to ensure that your needs are understood and that you don’t feel alone. ISVAs can provide emotional support before, during and after these types of health appointments, which may include being able to attend the appointment with you:
- Dentist
- Opticians
- Gynaecology including smear tests
- Breast screening
- Prostate checks
- Or any other intimate health appointment that is causing you distress because of the trauma you have been through.
Having emotional support can help ease your anxiety, reduce triggers and fears, and ensure that you don’t feel alone. It can also mean that your needs are respected and understood by all agencies and people involved.
