More patients offered GUM clinic appointments in March

More patients were offered a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic appointment within 48 hours during March than in February, the Department of Health has revealed.

Some 99.8 per cent of people were seen by a medical professional by the time two days had past. This was an increase of 0.1 per cent compared to last month.

However, the percentage of first attendances seen within 48 hours at a GUM clinic as a proportion of the total number fell by one per cent to 86.2 per cent.

In total, 185,242 patients were seen by a doctor or nurse in March, which equates to 8,420 per working day.

In February, 7,855 people per working day were seen to by a member of staff.

This particular type of health centre ? sometimes known as a sexual health clinic ? is often found at local hospitals.

Tests for sexual and urinary medical problems are provided. These include for conditions and illnesses such as thrush, cystitis, HIV/Aids and sexually transmitted diseases- such as genital warts, Chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea.