TEENAGE girls will be targeted in Sheffield's further education colleges by an NHS scheme to tackle teenage pregnancies.
Sheffield Contraception and Sexual Health Service has been piloting plans for new clinics in both Norton and Castle Colleges to provide young people with advice and guidance.
Clinics will be staffed by fully qualified family planning nurses and wi
ll be open during lunch periods once a week at Norton College and twice at Castle College.
Dr Tracey Dibble, of Sheffield Primary Care Trust said: "The new scheme is great because it will take contraception and sexual health services to young people who often find it difficult or embarrassing to attend adult-orientated clinics.
"Confidentiality is very important to us – the clinics are situated within the student support services building so students should have no fear of being identified."
The new scheme, called Opening Doors, will work towards reducing the rate of under-18 conceptions across the city.
The Sheffield Teenage Pregnancy Strategy works towards helping to achieve the Government's target of a 50 per cent reduction in teenage conceptions by 2010.
Health chiefs hope to add a further two clinics over the next year, one of which will be at Hillsborough college.
Dr Dibble added: "We hope to cover all the further education colleges because we know that young people are more likely to attend services when they are within college settings."
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