Jun
18
Friday, June 18, 2010
Kaikoura Star, Fairfax
When Sheila Stancombe, the regular Family Planning nurse, comes up to Kaikoura from Rangiora she says the view makes her feel 10 years younger.
Family Planning has a clinic in Kaikoura one Tuesday each month that Sheila has been running "on and off" since 2007, offering a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services.
As a senior nurse with Family Planning, she has 35 years of experience in providing health services and says she particularly enjoys helping women look after themselves by providing information and assisting them in choosing the right option.
Family Planning provides a second choice for sexual health advice which is separate from the medical services provided.
"We provide anonymity to everyone. Sometimes people don't want to see their usual health provider and so we offer a second option," Sheila says.
The Family Planning clinic provides pregnancy advice for those woman who are looking to have a baby as well as contraceptive advice, including prescriptions for condoms and oral contraceptives.
Men and women can use the clinic for the treatment of sexually transmissible infections.
The clinic is linked to the National Screening Unit so women can have their cervical smear tests done as part of the national programme.
Sheila says she has seen quite a few changes since she first started in 1969. Now alcohol and drugs are causing more problems but she says young people are much more aware of their sexual health and are taking better precautions.
"The difference is that now young people are much more up front about sex and so it's important they get the right advice and we can help them."
Appointments can be made on (03) 3195849. For more information check the Family Planning website, familyplanning.org.nz. Family Planning Kaikoura is located at 6 Beach Rd in the same building as Radiance Beauty and Day Spa.
Clinic dates for the next two months are July 6 and August 3.
Photo: Family Planning nurse Sheila Stancombe, by Liana Sligo.